the miller and his son quickly scrambled down, and a short time later, the market place was thrown into an uproar as the two came along carrying the donkey slung from a pole. a great crowd of people ran out to get a closer look at the strange sight.

the ass did not dislike being carried, but so many people came up to point at him and laugh and shout, that he began to kick and bray, and then, just as they were crossing a bridge, the ropes that held him gave way, and down he tumbled into the river.

the poor miller now set out sadly for home. by trying to please everybody, he had pleased nobody, and lost his ass besides.

if you try to please all, you please none.

a dove saw an ant fall into a brook. the ant struggled in vain to reach the bank, and in pity, the dove dropped a blade of straw close beside it. clinging to the straw like a shipwrecked sailor to a broken spar, the ant floated safely to shore.

soon after, the ant saw a man getting ready to kill the dove with a stone. but just as he cast the stone, the ant stung him in the heel, so that the pain made him miss his aim, and the startled dove flew to safety in a distant wood.

a kindness is never wasted.