By Aesop as retold by Rebecca Lunsford
One early morning a hunter loaded up his donkey and mule with a bunch of furs and pelts that he was taking into town to sell. Once he had finished securing the furs to the animals’ backs, they started their trek into town. Their trip started off easily enough, the donkey having no problem carrying his load, but in order to get to town they had to climb a bluff. The bluff had lush grass, and wildflowers that dotted its sides, and flocks of sheep often could be seen grazing at the top. To reach the top though, a treacherous road had to be taken. So they began to travel up the road but as they did so the donkey started to feel the weight of his burden until at least he could hear it no longer and he cried out to the mule, “I fear I will not be able to beat my load much longer. Please take a few furs off my back so that I may continue on the journey.” But the mule did not understand that the donkey was weaker and could not carry as much weight and so he replied, “You have carried your load just fine, I don’t see why you should need help now.” The donkey tried to further explain but the mule just ignored him.
They continued to climb the path but the donkey went very slowly until eventually he collapsed dead under the weight of his burden. The hunter at first did not know what to do but then he loaded the donkey’s furs and pelts onto the mule and expertly skinned the donkey and placed that on the mule as well. They then proceeded on their journey but the mule struggled under the weight and cried out,
“I have received what I deserved. I should have helped the donkey to beat his load while I could. But now I must beat his entire load plus him as well.”
Becca's Big Life 