THE MUSICAL ASS. 87

run to the door and defend it till the dame herself appeared.
If any one annoyed the old woman—as the boys around
would sometimes do, for the sake of seeing how the donkey
would behave—he would kick out at them fiercely, force
them to run away, and chase them for some distance.

When the dame wished to:ride, he would walk with the
greatest care and gentleness; but if any other person tried
to mount him, the ass very soon showed him that his will
and power were useless, and the effort usually ended in the
rider being roughly thrown, and perhaps kicked.

 

THE MUSICAL ASS.

We have no less an authority than Dr. Franklin to prove
that donkeys enjoy music.

The mistress of a country house in France, where he visited,
had an excellent voice, and every time she began to sing, a
donkey belonging to the estate constantly came near the win-
dow, and listened with the greatest attention. One day, during
the performance of a piece of music which apparently pleased
it more than any it had before heard, the animal, quitting its
usual post outside the window, without ceremony entered the
room, and showed its joy by braying with all its might.

I need scarcely hint, after you have read this story, that
you will act wisely in keeping your proper place. You may
be thought very clever in the nursery, or even at school;
but when you appear among strangers at home, or go out
visiting, wait till you are invited to show your talents, or you
may be thought as forward a donkey as was the musical ass.