when they met some girls going to a party. They
were talking and laughing as they went along. One of them said, "Look
at that man and boy driving a donkey. One of them surely might ride."

The miller heard what they said, and quickly made his you mount the
donkey, while he walked along at its side.

After a while they came to a group of old men who were talking very
earnestly. "There," said one, "I was just saying that boys and girls
have no respect for the aged. You see it is true in this case. See that
boy riding while his old father has to walk."

"Get down, my son," said his father, "and I will ride." So they went on.

They next met some women coming from town. "Why!" they cried, "your
poor little boy is nearly tired out. How can you ride and make him
walk?" So the miller made his son ride on the donkey behind him.

They were now in town. A man coming down the street called to the
miller, "Why do you make your donkey carry such a load? You can carry
him better than he can carry you."

At this the miller and his son got off the donkey. They tied the
donkey's legs together, turned him over on his back; and began to carry
him.

A crowd soon gathered to see the strange sight. As they were crossing a
bridge the donkey became frightened at the hooting of the crowd. He
broke loose, fell into the river, and was drowned.

The miller was angry and ashamed. He said, "There! I have tried to
please everybody and have only made a fool of myself. After this I
shall do as I think best and let people say what they will."

THE PUG DOG AND HIS SHADOW

"I am going out to see the world," said a pug puppy.

He ran down a hill as fast as his wabbly legs could carry him, and
looked into a little brook which flowed by.

"How queer!" he said, "I did not know that puppies live in water. This
one looks just like my brothers, but it can not be one of them. They
were all asleep when I came away. I will run home to tell mother about
it," and up the hill he went as fast as he could carry his fat little
body.

When he arrived at home, he panted out, "Oh, mother! I have found out
something that you do not know. There is a pug puppy living in the
creek."

"You are either dreaming, my son, or you have seen your own shadow,"
said his mother.

"I know what I saw, mother. I am not dreaming. It was not my shadow. It
was a puppy dog," and the little pug barked savagely at his mother.
"Come with me, mother. I will show you that I