The Story of a Donkey

asking myself whether donkeys were not a great deal better than human b

you’ve been badly treated. Come home and s

out five years old; his little sister, who was o

saying, Master Jac

ing him to come home w

whose name was Janie; “and let me

ed to lead me, but of course I had no bridle on, so he

y! Come along

d him All

ed him Al

ng me, that I at once followed him all the way

—look! He’s kissi

“He does that because he smells the p

hat I turned my head away all the rest of the time we

ran in, and in a few minutes they returned with

key?” said Jack, clasping his hands

and patted me, and felt my ears and put her hand into my mouth. I stoo

s to find out to whom he belongs, and if he is not reclaimed, we will keep him, at any rate for the39 present. Poor creature, h

o horses and another donkey for companions in the stable. Robert made me

t’s such a little, and Emily says he ran in the villa

too many oats he will be too lively, and then ne

ure he will go quietly for us. Do, R

il of water, and some hay. I made an enormous supper,

t me my oats himself, and, paying no heed to what Robert said, he gave me enough for thre

I was very feverish. I could eat neither oats nor hay. I couldn’t even g

Jack. “Get up, Neddy, it is breakf

head, but it fell heav

d Jack, in a great fright. “Rober

ed his manger early this morning. Ah,” he added, looking at the hay in

ery hot, and my sides were t

is it?” cried poor J

told you how it would be if you would give him all th

said Jack, looking

key has lived very poorly all the winter, as any one can see from his thinness and the state of his coat. Then he got very h

die, and it’s all my fault!” and

is time; but we shall have to bleed

a vein in my neck. It bled, and I began to feel better. My head wasn’t so heavy, and I fetched my breath more easily; I w

took the Grea

took the Great

from the kitchen garden, and cabbage-leaves, and carrots; and every evening they came to see me home to my stable, and there filled my manger for my supper with what I liked best of all, potato-peel and salt. Jack wanted to give me his pillow one night, because he thought that my head was too low when I was asleep; and Janie wanted to fetch the

ome cousins of theirs who also came to stay with their