i do not recollect my childhood; i was probably as unhappy as the rest of the little donkeys are; and no doubt as pretty and as graceful. certainly i was full of wit and intelligence, for, old as i am now, i have more of both than most donkeys possess.

i have often outwitted some of my poor masters, who, being only men, could not be expected to have the intelligence of a donkey,—and i will begin my memoirs with the story of a trick i once played in the days of my youth.