Very Short Stories And Verses For Children

<p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</SPAN></span></p> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> <h2><SPAN name="THE_DONKEY_ON_WHEELS" id="THE_DONKEY_ON_WHEELS"></SPAN>THE DONKEY ON WHEELS.</h2> <p>There was once a poor little donkey on wheels. It had never wagged its tail, or tossed its head, or said, "Hee-haw!" or tasted a tender thistle. It always went about, anywhere that anyone pulled it, on four wooden wheels, carrying a foolish knight, who wore a large cocked hat and a long cloak, because he had no legs. Now, a man who has no legs, and rides a donkey on wheels, has little cause for pride; but the knight was haughty, and seldom remembered his circumstances. So the donkey suffered sorely, and in many ways.</p> <p>One day the donkey and the knight were on the table in front of the child to whom they both belonged. She was cutting out a little doll's frock with a large pair of scissors.</p> <p>"Mistress," said the knight, "this donkey tries my temper. Will you give me some spurs?"</p> <p>"Oh, no, sir knight," the child answered. "You would hurt the poor donkey; besides, you have no heels to put them on."</p> <p>"Cruel knight!" exclaimed the donkey. "Make him get off, dear mistress; I will carry him no longer."</p> <p>"Let him stay," said the child, gently; "he has no legs, and cannot walk."<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</SPAN></span></p> <p>"Then why did he want spurs?"</p> <p>"Just the way of the world, dear donkey; just the way of the world."</p> <p>"Ah!" sighed the donkey, "some ways are very trying, especially the world's;" and then it said no more, but thought of the fields it would never see, and the thistles it would never taste.</p> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />