112

THE YOUTH’S CABINET.

 

The Donkey.

EY say the donkey is a very stupid
animal; but he is not stupid,
Men beat him, and kick him, and
keep him half starved; and that

makes him not care about anything ; and

so he seems stupid. But he is bright
enough, when he is treated with gentle-
ness and love. It makes all creatures
bright and happy, to be treated kindly.

A donkey will do anything for those he

loves; but he does not care to please

those who beat him and abuse him.
Thousands of miles from here, there
is a beautiful, sunny country, called

Spain. The poor, hard-working people

there are called peasants. In that coun-

try, there are many rocks and hills, and

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the donkey steps very safely and sure-|

footed among the stony paths, In Spain,
almost everybody has a donkey. Rich
people have them for ladies and children
to ride on, because they are so very easily
mounted, and step so ‘+ and so gen-
tly. Sometimes you will sce a plump
little donkey, covered with handsome
scarlet cloth, and three little children
riding on his back. He will step round
so carefully and softly, that even the
little baby is not afraid ; and he will stop
cloxe to the high step, that the little
ones may get off his back safely, and not
full and hurt themselves,

When the poor Spanish peasant has
Leen hard at work all day, and his don.
key has been hard at work too, they
come home very tired, and the poor jack-
ass can hardl y carry the heavy panniers
on his back. But the children stand at
the door, watching for him; and when
they see the good creature come slowly
along the road that winds down from

the hill, they throw up their caps, and
set up a merry shout. The donkey hears
them; he pricks up his long “ears, and
trots fast, in a hurry to meet them.
When he comes up to the cottage door,
they hug him round the neck, and pat
him on the side. They bring him some
of the bread they have for their own
suppers, and if they can find a turnip,
they run gladly to give it to him. He
eats from their hands, and lays his head
on their shoulders, and tries all he can
to say, “I love you, dear children,”

Oh no, the poor donkey is not stupid.
It is very pleasant to him to be loved,
and he gives back love to those who
treat him well.

I will tell you what a Spanish donkey
did once. His master was a poor man,
that carried milk to market. He did not
ride into the city in a cart, as our milk-
men do. ‘The milk was put into bottles,
and packed close in panniers, that were
thrown across the donkey’s back. The
peasant walked along beside the donkey
and his load, and thus they trudged to
market together, every day for many
years. The donkey knew his master
and mistress, just as well as they knew
each other. He would come joyfully
when they called his name, and feed
from their hands, and follow them all
around like a dog. He loved them, and
would do anything for them.

The peasant having been taken sick,
knew not what to do, till his wife sug-
gested that the donkey knew every cus-
tomer’s door as well as his master, and
would doubtless stop at each house.
Sure enough, they sent him off alone
with the milk, and he presented himself
at every customer's door, so that they
helped themselves ; and when he finished