to put by the money which its sale
would fetch. He would save himself from any annoyance and, in addition,
gain a substantial sum of money for the Brotherhood.

The ass was forthwith dispatched to the neighboring fair, whither it
happened by chance that Farmer Gilbert had come. He soon caught sight of
the ass and, coming up, he whispered in its ear: "Alas, good father, I
see that my warnings were useless, and that your gluttony has changed
you into an ass again." The ass, feeling something tickling its ear,
turned round and shook its head as if to contradict what he had just
heard.

"I know you well," continued Gilbert, in a loud voice. "You cannot deny
that you are the Franciscan friar named Timothy," But the ass still
shook its head, and Gilbert continued to argue with the animal till a
crowd gathered round them and began to mock and jeer.

[Illustration]

"If this ass is Brother Timothy," they cried, "you ought to buy him and
feed him on the tenderest grass. It would surely be an act of charity to
show some kindness to a poor unfortunate who has been transformed into
an ass."

The simple farmer took their advice, bought his own ass and led him
homeward over hill and dale and, as they went, he exhorted the animal to
behave well and be content. The children ran to meet their father and,
when they saw what he was leading, they shouted for joy, for they could
not understand that this creature was a holy friar, and not their own
lost donkey.

"Oh, Brother Timothy," they cried, "we are so glad you have come back to
us; we were afraid that you were dead and that we would never see you
any more!"

Then they wove green garlands for his neck, patted him and kissed his
head, and led him back to his stable. Henceforward, the donkey, who was
always known as Brother Timothy, led a life of luxury; he had little
work given him to do and so much hay and corn to eat, that he grew
ungrateful and vicious. At length Farmer Gilbert lost his patience and
said to the ass: "As our kindness is not repaid by good behavior, I
shall have to see what a sound thrashing will do."

It would be difficult to tell you of all the vices that this spoiled
animal had fallen into; among others was a habit of flinging up his
heels, breaking his halter, and running away through woods and over
meadows, defying the efforts of everyone to catch him. But his gravest
offense was breaking out of his shed at night and ravaging the cabbage
patch. This was