The Man, The Boy, and The Donkey
A father and son walk with a donkey. Everyone has something to say. What happens when they try to please them all?
Once upon a time, a man and his son were taking their donkey to the market. The sun was warm, and the road was dusty.
A traveler walking by saw them and laughed. "Why are you walking when you have a donkey?" he said. "One of you should ride it!"
Hearing this, the man put his son on the donkey’s back.
As they walked on, they passed some men. One of them frowned. "Look at that boy riding while his father has to walk!"
Feeling embarrassed, the man helped his son down and got on the donkey himself.
A little while later, they met two women. One shook her head. "What a shame! The man rides while his little boy has to walk."
The man sighed. He lifted his son onto the donkey so they could both ride.
When they reached town, people pointed and whispered, "How mean! They are making that poor donkey carry such a heavy load! The donkey needs to rest!"
The man and his son felt upset, so they both got off the donkey. Not knowing what else to do, they tied the donkey’s feet to a pole and carried it.
As they crossed a bridge, a crowd gathered, laughing and pointing. The donkey, frightened by the noise, kicked and wriggled. The boy lost his grip, and the donkey fell into the river. Since its feet were tied, it couldn’t swim.
The man and his son watched in shock as their donkey disappeared beneath the water.
An old man nearby saw what happened. He shook his head and said, "If you try to please everyone, you will end up pleasing no one."
Featured in the Book Audio available for B1 version
Once upon a time, a man and his son were taking their donkey to the market.
The sun was warm, and the road was dusty.
A traveler walking by saw them and laughed.
"Why are you walking when you have a donkey?" he said.
"One of you should ride it!"
Hearing this, the man put his son on the donkey’s back.
As they walked on, they passed some men.
One of them frowned.
"Look at that boy riding while his father has to walk!"
Feeling embarrassed, the man helped his son down and got on the donkey himself.
A little while later, they met two women.
One shook her head. "What a shame!
The man rides while his little boy has to walk."
The man sighed.
He lifted his son onto the donkey so they could both ride.
When they reached town, people pointed and whispered, "How mean!
They are making that poor donkey carry such a heavy load!
The donkey needs to rest!"
The man and his son felt upset, so they both got off the donkey.
Not knowing what else to do, they tied the donkey’s feet to a pole and carried it.
As they crossed a bridge, a crowd gathered, laughing and pointing.
The donkey, frightened by the noise, kicked and wriggled.
The boy lost his grip, and the donkey fell into the river.
Since its feet were tied, it couldn’t swim.
The man and his son watched in shock as their donkey disappeared beneath the water.
An old man nearby saw what happened.
He shook his head and said, "If you try to please everyone, you will end up pleasing no one."
Kwathi ke kaloku, indoda nonyana wayo babesa idonki labo emarikeni. ILanga lalishushu, nendlela yayinothuli.
Umhambi owayezihambela wababona waze wahleka. "Kutheni uhamba ngenyawo kodwa unedonki?" wabuza. "Omnye wenu kufuneka alikhwele!"
Ekuvile oku, indoda yakhwelisa unyana wayo edonkini.
Besahamba njalo, badlula kwamanye amadoda. Omnye wabo wafinga iintshiyi. "Jonga laa nkwenkwe ikhwele, kodwa uyise uhamba ngenyawo!”
Le ndoda yaziva ineentloni, yanceda unyana wayo ukuba ehle kwidonki, kwakhwela yena.”
Kungekudala, badibana nabafazi ababini. Omnye washukumisa intloko. "Lihlazo ke eli! Indoda ikhwele idonki kodwa inkwenkwana yayo kufuneka ihambe ngeenyawo."
Indoda yabonakalisa ukutyhafa. Yaphakamisa unyana wayo yamnyusa edonkini ukuze bakhwele bobabini.
Ukufika kwabo edolophini, abantu babekhomba kwaye basebeza, “Bakhohlakele! Balithwalisa ubunzima kakhulu noko idonki, nalo liyadinga ukuphumla!”
Utata nonyana wakhe baziva becaphukile, bobabini behla edonkini. Bengazi ukuba mabenze ntoni na.babophelela amanqina edonki baza bayithwala.
Bathe besawela ibholorho, isihlwele sahlanganisana, sihleka yaye sibakhomba. Idonki, isoyika ingxolo, yashukuma yaze yakhaba-khaba. Le nkwenkwana ayizange ibambisise, idonki yawela emlanjeni. Kuba iinyawo zalo zazibotshelelwe, zange likwazi ukuqubha.
Utata nonyana bothuka, balibukela idonki labo liinyamalala litshona emanzini.
Ixhego elalikufuphi nabo labona okwenzekileyo. Lashukumisa intloko lathi, "Ukuba uzama ukukholisa wonke umntu, uzophela ungakholisi namnye umntu.”
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Word Finder
Traveler
Person who goes on a journey to places.Embarrassed
Feeling shy or uncomfortable about something.Frowned
Made a sad or angry face.Shame
A bad feeling about something wrong or unfair.Sighed
Breathed out sadly or tiredly.Whispered
Spoke very softly and quietly.Mean
Unkind or unfair to someone.Gathered
Came together in a group.Frightened
Feeling scared or afraid.Wriggled
Moved back and forth quickly.
Understanding Questions
- Why did the man and his son take the donkey to the market?
- What did the traveler suggest when he saw them walking?
- Why did the man change who was riding the donkey several times?
- What happened when the man and his son decided to carry the donkey?
- How did the donkey fall into the river?
Reflection Questions
1. Why did the man and his son keep changing their actions and end up carrying the donkey?
2. What happened to the donkey when they were crossing the bridge?
3. Whose fault was it? Why?
4. Can you think of a time when you changed your actions because of what others might think?
5. How can this story help you make better decisions when you face criticism or opinions from others?
Fable Quotes
Better a hungry wolf than a chained dog.
Full bellies don't make full hearts, contentment does.
Every choice we make comes with its own consequences.
Just One More Fable
- Trust
- Greed
The Three Promises
Aditya rescues a tiger, snake, and man from a well, earning promises that later save him from trouble and prove his innocence.
- Teamwork
- Choice
A Lion and A Bear
A lion and bear fought over a goat, exhausting themselves, and a fox took advantage, leaving them with regret.
- Wisdom
- Patience
The Bald Man and The Fly
A bald man, tormented by a fly, injures himself trying to swat it with a large stone, while the fly escapes unharmed.
- Moderation
- Wisdom
The Dogs and The Hides
Hungry dogs drank too much river water to reach hides, causing their bellies to burst, but the hides remain unreachable.
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“The Man, The Boy, and The Donkey” is one of the 25 illustrated fables in our book, 25 Fables for Fun Quality Time.
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