A Man and his son were once going with their Donkey to market.

　　As they were walking along by its side a countryman passed them

　　and said: "You fools, what is a Donkey for but to ride upon?"

　　So the Man put the Boy on the Donkey and they went on their

　　way. But soon they passed a group of men, one of whom said: "See

　　that lazy youngster, he lets his father walk while he rides."

　　So the Man ordered his Boy to get off, and got on himself.

　　But they hadn't gone far when they passed two women, one of whom

　　said to the other: "Shame on that lazy lout1 to let his poor little

　　son trudge2 along."

　　Well, the Man didn't know what to do, but at last he took his

　　Boy up before him on the Donkey. By this time they had come to

　　the town, and the passers-by began to jeer3 and point at them. The

　　Man stopped and asked what they were scoffing4 at. The men said:

　　"Aren't you ashamed of yourself for overloading5 that poor donkey

　　with you and your hulking son?"

　　The Man and Boy got off and tried to think what to do. They

　　thought and they thought, till at last they cut down a pole, tied

　　the donkey's feet to it, and raised the pole and the donkey to

　　their shoulders. They went along amid the laughter of all who met

　　them till they came to Market Bridge, when the Donkey, getting one

　　of his feet loose, kicked out and caused the Boy to drop his end

　　of the pole. In the struggle the Donkey fell over the bridge, and

　　his fore-feet being tied together he was drowned.

　　"That will teach you," said an old man who had followed them:

　　"Please all, and you will please none."