The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-09-03
THE CHANGED DONKEY.
Translated from the Swedish by John P.
Siolander

Q MS udNAh Utulnu MS WMUAs anu ADNAGa az
if his mind was busy with deep and intri-
cate thoughts. But there was not a
thought in his mind, for what was there
4 to think aboutl In the hands behind his
/ back, however, there was one end of
1 rope, and the other end was attached to a
lazy donkey, who was willing to be
dragged along as much as his patient
master would allow. 1t was a hot day,
and the donkey was loaded with provts-
ions and certain allowable drinkables
bought in the city.
/ Two ragged boys were sitting by the
wayside, but Hodscha did not see them.
| The boys had only one long unfulhlled
! wish upon earth, and that was to satisfy
/ their hunger for once with eatables not LETT
over from other peoples meals-just such
as the donkey carried so plentifully upon
his patient back. Sinful thought entered
the hearts of the boys They looked into
each others eyes, their thoughtswere the
! same. BY subtle telegraDhy of mind q
! moment was sufficient to mature plan,
and in the next they were ready to exc
! cute it.
Swiftly they sprang into the highway,
and with noiseless steps overlook the don
| key One of the boys grasped the rope,
while the other slipped it from the don
| keys neck and placed it around his own.
| Then he put strain upon it like his pre-
decessor had done, and was led along by
! Hodscha.
Oh, it was so hot The young thief
looked around anxiously. His comrade
| with the donkey had already vanished be-
hind rocky ridge. and Hodscha could
not see them if he looked around. Then
| the boy put a heavier strain upon the
rope, until at last it became too much
even for the meek and patient Hodscha,
and he looked around to admonish his
| donkey to better fulfill his duty.
And now he saw, at the other end of
| the rope, instead of his old four-footed
! friend, naked boy, who, when he saw
| Hodscha's glance rest upon himself, be-
| gan to cry out pitifully
what does this mean2' gasped
Hodscha. What has become of my
donkeyl"
80, venerable Hodschap" cried the
young thief, "have pity upon me, unfort-
innate
"What is it, my sonl Speakln
And now the boy with deceitful tears
| In his eyes, and many sobs, began to tell
how formerly he had been bad boy, but
| in reality more foolish than bad, and
when one day he had exasperated his
mother, who was very good and very
| pious woman, she had cried out in anger !:
|
| ''Oh, that you might become donkey for
| ten years, and at the hands of strange
masters receive that punishment which
| you so richly deserve" And the pious
mothers wish was heard, and he had
! been changed into a donkey. He had
served hard and cruel masters, he said,
! and they often required Of him more
strength than he possessed, until at last
a kind fate had placed him in the gentle
! care of HodScha Sahib.
THAT was four yeare ago. said Holds
cha
Eyes, four years ago." readily repeated
| the sly young thief and liar. And since
that time have learned to appreciate a
kind master, and willingly would l have
continued in his service. But half an
hour ago the ten years expired, and now
you behold your old donkey as he was
originally-a poor, unfortunate boy"
But what will / do with youl"
80, kind master, send me home to my
pious MOTHER
Hodscha scratched his head and
stroked his beard, while he looked at the
boy critically. He was certainly as fool
ish now as he had been wise as a donkey.
He seemed to be starved and weak, his
eyes were sunhen In his head, and he
was surely not in condition to carry
| burdens as the donkey had done uncom-
plainingly, though often unwillingly.
Hodscha had often preached to the
children left in his care that the will of
Allah was past finding out and that man
must unquestionably accept the fate pre-
pared for him. The good man was ready
| to practice what he so long had preached
to accept his fate without complaint.
Return to your mother" he sal d
! gently, and added the admonition: "Be
careful, however that you do not offend
her again"
Upon this the boy respectfully kissed
the old mans hand, and then with swift
feet ran along the highway to reioin his
comrade.
They met in the wood beyond the stony
ridge, where they partook so freely of the
good things the donkey carried that they
were made to feel very uncomfortable.
| Then they hid what remained of the pro-
visions for a feast the next day, and
! turned the donkey loose to provide for
i himself. He was eating the fresh young
grass under the shade of the trees and
enjoying himself to his hearts content,
/ when peasant came along and found him,
and brought him to a stable close by,
/ where he was sold to drover, on his way
to the market, tho next day
! Poor Hodscha continued his way with
light feet but a heavy heart, and arrived
at his humble home at last. There, of
the remnants of his old supply of provis-
| ions he proceeded to prepare a meal to
/ appease his great hunger. For three
| days he lived thus, but on the fourth he
could bear his privations no longer. He
| had lost his wife many years before and
| had readily learned to do without her,
but he could not do without his donkey
With many sighs he gathered together
from many hiding places the money he
! had saved for many years, and started
again for the city. He sought the donkey
market the first thing, where he went
! from drover to drover and inquired the
price of their wares, Suddenly, with a
| look of terror on his face, he leaped
! backward. Before him stood his
old donkey, looking, if anything, more
starved and miserable than he had ever
seen him before. Although the drover
offered the animal to Hodscha for very
small price he refused to buy, for his for
mer experience had taught him that the
purchase would be far from safe invest
ment of his money
When the drover for a moment turned
| his back, Hodscha approached the old
/ donkey and whispered in his ear:
My son, my son, why did you offend
! your mother so soon againl"
| Hodscha's breath tickled the donkeyis
! ear and he shook his head YEARLY.
! "Ah, that is no reply said Hodscha
| sadly, and walked away.
/ A MOST WONDERFUL DOG.
I