Litchfield enquirer., 1855-04-05
How to make Donkey eea.s Rray,ns


 In l640, we were once making journey in wagon in the province of Pekin. Our equipage was under the guidance of one of our catschists, an old sckoolmaster, mount ed on magnificent ass, so full of ardor and agility that the two mules who completed our team had all the difficulty to keep up with him. This ass, however was so filled with the sense of his own superiority, and so proud of it, that whenever he became aware of the presence of any of his breth- ren. let them be at ever so great distance he never failed to begin boasting of it in such sonorous tones that his folly became quite insupportable. When we go to an inn, instead of trying to rest himself, this indefa,igable beast passed the whole night in practising his music and there appeared to be something so peculiarly provoking in the tones of his voice that all the asses with lin hearing, influenced, it twould seem, by the power of some magnetic fluid. were quite sure to respond in a magnificent bravufa, so that altogether i. became impossible to close our eyes.
 One evening, when our catechist was yaulfing the qualities of his ass, we could not help interrup,ing him.
 Your ass," said we, :. is an aboinina- bio brute. During tho whole journey, lie has prevented our getting wink of sleep.'' "Why did you not tell me so hefore r said tho caiechisi; Il would soon have stopped his singing"
 As the ancient schoolmaster was some what of wag, and indulged occasionally in small joke, We took little notice of his reply, but that night we slept quite scuadly. ..Well, did the ass make noise iasl nishti'' said he, when we met in the morn. !. Perhaps not at all events we certainly did mt hear him.
 "No, no; think not; l saw to that be- fore went to bed. You must have noticed. ' he continued, that when an ass is going 10 bray he always begins by raising his tail and he keeps it extended horizontally as long as his song lasts. To ensure silence, therefore, you have only to tie large stone 10 the end of his tail, so that he cannotraise ! it.''
 We smiled, without reply, thinking this
 was another piece of pleasantly; but he cried.
 < Come now and see you can easily i convince yourselves. ss ss And accordingly we followed him to the
 art-yard, where wc-bcheld, sure enough, the poor ass with Insge stone attached to his tall, and with the air of having entirely
 lost his accustomed spirits. His eyes were fixed on the ground, his eafs down. his
 whole appearance denoted humility and de lection. We felt quite compassionate low ards him. and begged his master to untis the stone directly; and as soon as ever he fell
 his musical appendsge at liberty. the crea- tnre raised. iirsi his head, then his ears. then his tail. and al last began to bray with all his woAted enthusiasm.
 X neoier bit Of satire than the following
 one rareIy picks up. Read is. It suits ,hs
 present age ParharS as well as Lamb lime 4 FAsLs-- l3g cda,ies I,lssns .--ssAIy deal
 children" said n old raj 10 his young oae<
 .-ihe infrmii;rs of are ars pressing SO !pavi ly nppn me, that have determined to dedi l cate the remainder of my days to moriifica tlon and penance. in . narrow and lonely
 hole which I have lately discovered but le me pot interfere with yoaF enioyments.- Youth is the season for pleasare ba hap l py, therefarr, ,and only obey my last injonc
 iions never come near me in my retreat. - God bless ynu all Y Deeply affected, sniv cling nudibly, and wiping his pascrnal ere. with tis tail, the old rat withdrew, snd was sren no more for several days, when hi ycl3u06st danniitfr moved rafI,cr 1r fin fsIia