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Short Stories
 

        The Ass and the Mule 


Once there was a Muleteer who went on a journey. With him was an Ass and a Mule, which were both well burdened.

The Ass, carried his load with ease as long as he traveled along the plain, but when he began to go through the steep path of the mountain, he felt his load to be more heavier than he could bear.

 He requested his companion Mule to reduce a small portion of his load, that he might carry home the rest; but the Mule ignored to his request.

 The Ass shortly afterwards fell down dead under his burden. Not knowing what else to do in so wild a region, the Muleteer placed upon the Mule the load carried by the Ass in addition to his own, and at the top of all placed the hide of the Ass, after he had skinned him.

The Mule, groaning beneath his heavy burden, said to himself: "I am treated according to my wilderness. If I had only been willing to assist the Ass a little in his need, I should not now be bearing, together with his burden, himself as well."