The adventures of a donkey

Front matter

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Table Of Contents

I.— The Market,

II.— The Pursuit,

III. — New Masters,

I. The Market

Men not being supposed to be aware of all that donkeys know, yon, who read this book, are doubtless ignorant of what is well known to all my donkey friends, namely : that every Tuesday in the town of Laigle there is held a market, where vegetables, butter, eggs, cheeso and other excellent things are sold. This Tuesday is a day of torture for my poor comrades ; it was so for mo before I was bought by my present good old mistress, your grandmother. I belonged to a farmer’s wife, exacting and cruel. Just imagine, my dear little master, that she carried her malice so far as to collect all the eggs her hens laid, all the butter and cheese from her cows’ milk, all the vegetables and fruits that ripened during the week, to fill baskets which she placed upon my back.

And when I was so heavily laden that I could scarcely move, this wicked woman seated herself upon the baskets and obliged me to trot thus burdened, overwhelmed, indeed, to the market of Laigle, a league from the farm. I was all this time in a rage I dared not show,

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for fear of the stick my mistress carried, a very big one full of knots, that hurt sorely when she beat me. Whenever I saw or heard these preparations for market, I sighed, I groaned, I ever brayed, in hopes of softening the hearts of my owners.

“ Shut your mouth, great idle thing,” said they^coming to get me, “ shut your mouth, and do not deafen us with your coarse, horrid voice. Hi ! ban ! hi ! ban ! that is beautiful music you are gi ving us ! Edward, my boy, bring this lazy beast up to the door whilst your mother puts the load on his back. Here is a basket of eggs— one more! The cheese— the butter!— now the vegetables. That’s right! Here is a fine load, that is going to bring us several five franc pieces. Mary, my daughter,

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bring a cliair for your mother to mount the donkey. Good bye, a pleasant trip, wife, and make this lazy beast move. Hold on, here is your stick, hit him with it.”

Pan ! Pan !

“ That’s right, a few more caresses of that kind and he’ll go.”

Ylan ! Ylan ! The stick never ceased to belabor my sides, my legs, my neck ; I trotted, I almost galloped, yet the woman still beat me. I was indignant at so much injustice and cruelty; I tried to kick and throw her off, but I was too heavily burdened ; I could only start and sway from side to side, thus affording myself the satisfaction of feeling her slipping down. “ Wicked donkey ! stupid animal! headstrong creature!” said she, “I am going to teach you better, I’ll let you feel the weight of my stick.”

And indeed, she beat me so I could scarcely reach the town. We arrived at last. All the baskets were lifted off my poor skinned back and placed on the ground. My mistress having tied me to a post, went to breakfast, whilst I, who was dying of hunger and thirst, got not a sprig of grass, or a drop of water. I found means of getting close to the vegetables during her absence and refreshed myself by filling my stomach with a basket of salad and cabbage. 1 had never eaten anything so good in my life, but just as I was finishing the last cabbage and the last salad, my mistress returned. She uttered a scream on seeing her basket empty ; I regarded her with such a satisfied insolent air, that she immediately recognized mo as the author of her loss, I shall not repeat to you the names she called me. She was very hightempered, and when in a rage, she swore and said things that made mo blush, donkey as I am. Having loaded me with the most humiliating reproaches, to which I made no reply, except by licking my lips and turning my back upon her, she took her stick and began to beat me so cruelly, that I, at last, lost all patience, and launched at her three kicks, the first of which broke her nose and two teeth; the second, her wrist, and the third, striking her in the stomach, knocked her over. Twenty persons rushed upon me, overwhelming me with blows and vile words. They carried my mistress off, I know not where, and left me attached to the post, near which the marketing I had brought was displayed. Here I remained a long time ; seeing that no one thought of me, I ate a second basket of excellent vegetables, and cutting with my teeth the cord that held me, I quietly took the road home.

Every one I passed on the way seemed astonished at seeing me alone.

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“Look, there is a donkey with a broken strap! He has escaped,” said one.

“ It must be a fugitive from the galleys,” said another. And they all began to laugh.

“ He doesn’t carry a heavy load on his back,” remarked a third.

“ Yery true,” exclaimed a youth, “ he has been at some mischief.”

“ Catch him, husband,” said a woman, “let us put the little one in the saddle.”

“He will carry you as well as the little boy,” replied the husband.

Wishing to give them a good opinion of my gentleness and condescension, I very quietly approached the woman and stopped to let her mount.

“ He doesn’t seem at all vicious,” said the man, helping his wife into the saddle.

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I smiled with pity at hearing this. Vicious ! as if a donkey kindly treated was ever vicious! AVe become ill-tempered, disobedient, headstrong, only in retaliation for the blows and foul names heaped upon us. When properly treated, we are good natured — much better in this respect than other animals.

I carried the wife and child home. The latter was a pretty little boy about two years old, who caressed me fondly, thought me charming, and wanted to keep me altogether. But I reflected that this would not be honest; my masters had bought me, I belonged to them. I had already revenged myself upon my mistress by break ing her nose, teeth and wrist, and giving her a good kick in the stomach. Seeing, then, that the mother would yield to the little boy, whom she spoiled (I soon perceived this whilst they were on my back), I jumped to one side, and before the mother could seize my bridle, was off in a gallop towards home.

Mary, my master’s daughter, saw me first.

“ Oh ! there is Cadichon. How early he has returned. Here, Edward, come take off his saddle.”

“ Wicked creature,” said Edward, in an angry tone, “ one has always to be bothered with you. But why has he returned alone ? I’ll bet he has run away. Vile beast ! ” he added, kicking me on the leg, “ if I knew you had escaped, I would give you a hundred licks of the stick ! ”

Once rid of my saddle and bridle, I went off galloping. Scarcely had I entered the pasture, when I heard loud cries proceeding from the house. Approaching the

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hedge, I saw that the farmer’s wife had been brought home, and I recognized the screams as those of the children. I listened most intently, and heard Edward say to his father :

“ Father, I am going to tie him to a tree, and take the big wagon whip and beat him till he falls to the ground ! ”

“ Yery well, my son, go, but do not kill him, for we would lose what he cost us. I shall sell him at the next fair.”

I trembled with fright on hearing these words, and on seeing Edward run to the stable for the whip. There was no time for hesitation, and without any scruple now as to defrauding my owner of what he had paid for me, I ran towards the hedge separating me from the fields, and dashed against it with such force, that I broke the branches and made my way through. I ran at full speed through the field, and I continued to gallop a very long time, believing myself pursued. At last, unable to go farther, I stopped; I listened, but heard nothing. I mounted a slight eminence, I saw no one. Then I began to breathe freely, and rejoice at having delivered myself from these wicked farmers.

But I now commenced to wonder what would become of me. If I remained where was I would be discovered, recognized and taken back to my master’s. What should I do ? where should 1 go ?

I looked around, and finding myself solitary and unhappy, I was about to shed tears over my sad fate, when I perceived that I was on the edge of a magnificent woods, it was the forest of St. Evroult.

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" Wliat good luck ! ” I exclaimed, “ In this forest I shall find tender herbage, water, fresh moss; 1 shall remain here a few days, and then go to another forest, farther, much farther from my master’s farm.”

I entered the forest; I ate with delight the tender grass and I drank the water from a beautiful spring. Towards night, I lay down on the moss at the foot of an old pine, and there slept peacefully till morning.

II. The Pursuit

The next morning after eating and drinking, I thought over my happiness.

“ Here,” said I, “ they can never find me, I am saved. In two days, however, when I shall have rested from my fatigue, I will go still farther.”

Scarcely was this reflection finished, when I heard the distant barking of a dog, then of another, and in a few minutes I distinguished the sound of a whole pack of hounds. Anxious, and even somewhat frightened, I arose and went towards a little stream that I had noticed in the morning. Scarcely had I done so, ere I heard Edward saying to the dogs :

“ Come, come, dogs, seek him well, find me this wicked donkey, bite him, tear his legs to pieces and bring him to me, that I may lay my whip on his back.”

Jowards evening1 two men entered the meadow.— (Page 11,)

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I nearly sank to the ground from fright ; but suddenly remembering that I could throw the dogs off my track by walking in the water, I ran at once to the stream, which fortunately was bordered on both sides with very thick bushes. I walked a very long time without stopping ; the barking of the dogs died away in the distance, as well as the voice of the wicked Edward.

Breathless and exhausted I stopped an instant to drink, and I ate a few leaves from the bushes. My legs Were stiff with cold, but I dared not quit the water, for fear the dogs might return and get upon my trail. When somewhat rested I began to run, following the stream all the while, until I was out of the forest. I then found myself in a vast meadow, where cows and oxen (over fifty in number) were pasturing. They took no notice of me, so I lay down in the sun to rest in a corner of the field. Towards evening two men entered the meadow.

“ Brother,” said the tallest of the two, u shall we not bring up the cattle to night ? they say there are wolves in the woods.”

“ Wolves ! who told you that nonsense ? ”

“ The Aigle folks. They tell how a donkey from the hedge farm was carried oft* and devoured in the forest.”

“ Bah ! let it go, the people of that farm are so cruel, they have beaten their donkey to death.”

“ Why, then, would they^say the wolves devoured it? ’* “ Because it is not known that they killed it.”

“ Even so, it would be better to bring in the cattle.’*

“ Do as you wish, brother, I leave it to you.”

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I did not stir in my corner, for fear of being discovered. The grass was high and concealed me entirely, the cattle did not pass near me, but were driven towards the gate and thence to their masters’ farm.

I had no fear of wolves, for 1 was the very donkey of whom the men spoke ; and in the forest where I had passed the night, I had not seen even a wolf’s trail. So I slept delightfully, and was finishing my breakfast when the cattle re-entered the field, led by two big dogs.

Whilst I was quietly looking at them, one of the dogs perceived me, and barking fiercely, ran at me, followed by his companion. What would become of me? how should I escape them ? I rushed against the fence enclosing the meadow ; the stream I had followed crossed the lot, and I was fortunate enough to clear this stream, also to hear the voice of one of the men I had seen the evening before, calling back his dogs. I quietly continued my walk until I had readied another forest, the name of which I did not know. I must now have been more than ten leagues from the hedge farm ; consequently 1 was safe, no one knew me, and I could show myself without fear of being taken back to my former owners.

III. The New Masters

I lived peacefully in tliis forest one month. Sometimes I felt a little lonesome, but I preferred solitude to misery. I was then tolerably happy, when I began to perceive that the grass was getting scarce and dry, the leaves falling, the water freezing, the ground growing damp.

“ Alas ! alas ! ” thought I, u what is to become of me ? If I stay here I shall perish of cold, of hunger and thirst, but where shall I go ? who is there that wants me ?”

By dint of reflection, I devised a means of securing shelter. Leaving the forest, I went to a little village near by. There I saw a small, neat looking, isolated house, and a good woman seated at the door spinning. I was touched with her sad, gentle appearance ; I approached her and put my head upon her shoulder. Much startled, the good woman uttered a scream and jumped Up from her chair. I did not stir, but regarded her with rt pitiful, supplicating air.

“ Poor beast ! said she, at length, “ you do not look wicked. If ilo one owned you, I would be very milch pleased to have you supply the place of my poor old Orison, who died of* old age. I cduld then Continue to 2

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make my living selling my vegetables at the market. But, no doubt, yon have a master,” she added, sighing.

“ To whom are you talking, grandmother ? ” said a soft voice from the inside of the house.

“ I am talking to a donkey that has come here and put his head on my shoulder, and he looks at me so pitifully that I haven’t the heart to drive him away.”

“ Let me see ! let me see 1 ” answered the soft voice. And immediately there appeared on the threshold a handsome little boy six or seven years of age, neatly but poorly clad. He looked at me with a curious, half timid air.

“ May I pet him, grandmother ? ” said he.

“ Certainly, my George, but take care that he does not bite you.”

The little boy extended his arm, and not being able to reach me, he advanced a step, then another, and began to smooth my back.

I did not stir for fear of frightening him; I only turned my head towards him, and passed my tongue over his hand.

“ Grandmother, grandmother, this poor donkey is so good-natured, he has licked my hand.”

“ It is very strange that he should be alone. Where is his master ? Go, George, to the village inn, where travelers stop> and make inquiries about him. His master is probably worried about him.”

“ Shall I take the donkey, grandmother ? ”

“ He will not follow you ; let him go where he wishes.”

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George started off in a run; I trotted after him. When he saw that I followed, he came to me, and petting me, said: “ Say then, my pretty donkey, since you follow me, you will surely let me ride you.” And he mounted at once, exclaiming as he did so, “ get up ! ” I went off in a little gallop, which enchanted him. “ Ho ! ho I ” said he before the inn, I stopped immediately, and George dismounted. I remained opposite the door, not stirring any more than if I had been tied.

“ What is it, my boy ? ” said the inn-keeper.

“ I came to know, Mr. Duval, if this donkey at the door belongs to you or any of your customers ? ”

Mr. Duval came to the door and regarded me attentively. “ Ho, my boy,’* said he, “ it is not mine, nor that of any one I know. You will have to inquire further.”

George remounted, and setting off again in a gallop, we went from house to house, inquiring for my owner. Ho one kne’w me, and we returned to the good grandmother, who was still sitting in the door spinning.

“ Grandmother, the donkey belongs to no one about here. What are we to do with him ? He keeps close to me, but he jumps away when anybody else tries to touch him.”

“ In that case, my George, we must not let him stay out doors all night; something might happen to him. Lead him to our poor Grison’s stable, give him a bundle of hay and a bucket of water. We can take him to market to-morrow, and perhaps we may find his master.”

“ And if we do not find him, grandmother? ”

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“We will keep the donkey till some one claims him. We could not let the poor beast perish of cold this winter, or fall into the hands of wicked people who would beat him, or cause his death from fatigue and hard treatment.”

After giving me food and water, George caressed me and went out, saying, as he shut the door :

4< How I hope he has no master, so he may stay with us.”

Hext day, having given me my breakfast, George put a halter on my neck and led me up to the door; the grandmother next placed a very light pack-saddle on my back and seated herself upon it. George then brought a little basket of vegetables, which she took upon her knees, and we set out for the market of Mamers. The good woman sold her vegetables at a fair price, no one recognized me, and I returned with my new mistress.

I lived* there four years; I was happy, injuring no one and making myself very useful, for I loved my little master, who never beat me, never worked me to death and always fed me well. However, I was no glutton ; in summer, remnants of Vegetables and the herbs which neither the horses nor cows ate; in winter a little hay and the skins of potatoes, carrots and turnips, satisfied my wants, as is the case with other donkeys.

There were some days I did not enjoy, those on which my mistress hired me to the children in the neighborhood. Being poor, and not always having enough work to keep me busy, she was very glad to make a little something by hiring me to the children of the castle near by.

They were not always good children.

Listen to what happened on one of these excursions.

IV. The Bridge

There were six donkeys drawn up in tlie yard; I was one of the handsomest and strongest of the number. Three little girls brought us oats in a bucket. Whilst eating I listened to the children’s conversation.

“ Come ” said Charles/1 let us choose our donkeys, as for myself, I take that one,” pointing to me with his finger.

“ You always take the best,” answered the five children at once, “ we must draw lots.”

“ How do you wish us to draw lots, Caroline,” replied Charles, “ do we put the donkeys in a bag and draw them out as one does balls \ ”

“Ah! ah! ah!” said Francis, “what an idiot, with his donkeys in a bag ! As if one could not number them 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, G, put the numbers in a bag, and let eacli draw his number.”

“ So we can ” cried the five others, “ Ernest set down the numbers, while we write them on the donkey’s backs.

These children are dunces, said I to myself. If they had the sense of a donkey, instead of tiring themselves writing numbers on our backs, they would simply arrange us along the wall, the first would be 1, the second, 2, and so on for the rest.

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Meanwhile, Francis had brought a big piece of coal. I was the first, so he made an enormous 1 on my back ; whilst he wrote 2 on that of my comrade, I gave myself a vigorous shake, to convince him that his invention was not a famous one. Behold, the particles of coal flew off and the 1 disappeared. “You dunce !” cried he, “I must commence over.” Whilst he re-wrote his number 1, my comrade that had perceived my doings, and was also mischievous, shook himself in turn. Behold the 2 disappear. Francis began to get angry; the others laughed and mocked him. I made a sign to my comrades and we let him number us, no one budged. Ernest returned with the numbers in his handkerchief ; each one drew. Whilst they were looking at what they had drawn I made another sign to my comrades, and we all shook ourselves worse than ever. More coal, more numbers, it must be commenced over, the children were enraged.

_ Charles was triumphant and giggled ; Ernest, Albert, Caroline, Cecilia and Louisa were indignant at Francis, who in turn, stamped his foot, my comrades and I began to bray. The noise attracted the papas and mamas. The cause was explained to them and one of the papas suggested the plan of arranging us along the wall. He made the children draw their numbers.

“ One ! ” cried Ernest. It was myself.

“ Two ! ” cried Cecilia. It was one of my friends.

“ Three, cried Francis, and so on to the last.

“ Let us start now,” said Charles, “ I go first.”

“ Oh ! I shall soon overtake you,” replied Ernest with animation.

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“ I bet not.”

“ I bet I shall.”

Charles taps his donkey, which sets off at a gallop. Before Ernest has time to touch me with a whip, I start also, and at such a pace that Charles is speedily overtaken. Ernest is delighted, Charles is furious. He taps and keeps tapping his donkey. Ernest has no need to tap me ; I run, I fly like the wind. I pass Charles in a minute, and I hear the others who follow, laughing, and crying out :

“ Bravo ! donkey number 1, bravo ! he runs like a horse.”

Self love gives me courage ; I continue to gallop until we reach a bridge. I stop suddenly, for I have just perceived that a large plank in the bridge is rotten ; I do not wish to fall in the water with Ernest, but to return to the others who are far, far behind us.

“ Ho there ! ho there ! donkey,” said Ernest to me, “ On the bridge, donkey, on the bridge.”

I resist, he gives me a touch with the switch.

I still continue to walk towards the others.

i( Headstrong thing ! stupid brute ! will you turn and pass the bridge ? ”

I walk on towards my comrades and rejoin them, in spite of this wicked boy’s cross words and blows.

“ Why do you beat your donkey, Ernest ? ” cries Caroline, “ he is excellent, he went flying and you overtook Charles.”

“ I beat him to make him go over the bridge, he is determined to turn back.”

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“All ! bah ! because lie was alone ; now that we are all together he will pass the bridge like the rest.”

“ Unfortunate creatures ! ” think I, “ they are all going to fall into the river. I must try to convince them of the danger.”

And I set off in a gallop towards the bridge, to Ernest’s great satisfaction and amidst cries of joy from the other children.

I gallop up to the bridge; reaching it, I stop suddenly as if afraid, Ernest astonished, urges me on, I recoil with an air of fright that surprises Ernest still more. Silly boy! he sees nothing though the rotten board is in full view. The others rejoin him, and enjoy tiie spectacle of his efforts to make me go across and mine not to do so. -At last the whole party dismount from their donkeys, each one pushing and beating me mercilessly, still I budge not.

“ Pull him by the tail,” cries Charles, “ donkeys are so headstrong that if you want to make them go one way, they are sure to go the other.”

Behold them seize me by the tail. I defend myself with a kick ; they all beat me at once, and yet I will not move an inch.

“ Wait Ernest,”' says Charles, “let me go first and he will certainly follow.”

He tries to advance, to prevent him I place myself crosswise before the bridge, but by dint of blows he makes me fall back.

“ Well,” said 1 to myself, “ I’ll give up, if this bad boy

A pole! a pole!” he cried.— (Page 23.)

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wants to be drowned, let liim be, I have done my best to save him; since he is so determined, let him taste a draught.”

Scarcely had his donkey touched the rotten plank, ere it gave way, and both rider and animal were thrown into the water. There was no danger for my comrade, as like the rest of his race, he knew how to swim, but Charles struggled and screamed without the power of extricating himself.

“A pole ! a pole ! ” he cried.

The Children ran in every direction, at last Caroline found a long pole, which she hastily held out to him ; he seized it, but his weight was dragging her in, and she called for help. Ernest, Francis and Albert ran to her. At length, with a great deal of difficulty, they succeeded in drawing to land the unhappy Charles, who had drank more than he relished, and who was wet from head to foot. When assured of his safety, they all began to laugh at his piteous plight; Charles got angry, they jumped upon their donkeys, and with bursts of laughter advised him to return to the house and change his clothes. Wet as he was, he mounted his donkey. I laughed in my sleeve at his ridiculous figure, the current had carried away his hat and shoes, the water was running off him to the ground, his dripping hair clung to him, and his countenance was furious — altogether he was a most ludicrous picture. The children laughed, my comrades pranced and ran to express their delight.

I ought to add that Charles’ donkey was detested by

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the rest of us, because he was quarrelsome, gluttonous and stupid, qualities very rare among us.

At length Charles disappeared, and both children and donkeys became more quiet. Every one caressed me and admired my spirit, and we all started off again, I at the head of the band.

V. The Cemetery

We went at a brisk pace; and soon approached the village cemetery, which is about a league from the castle. “Suppose we turn back and take the forest road,” said Caroline.

“ Why ? ” asked Cecilia.

“ Because I do not like cemeteries.”

“ Why do you not like them,” replied Cecilia with an air of derision. “Are you afraid you will not get awTay ? ”

“ No, but I think of the poor people who are buried there, and it makes me sad.”

The children ridiculed Caroline and rode directly past the wall. They were just about to keep on, when Caroline, wTho seemed disquieted, stopped her donkey, leaped off, and ran to the cemetery gate.

“ What are you doing, Caroline, wdiere are you going ? ” exclaimed the others.

Caroline did not answer, but hurriedly pushing open the gate, she onterod tho cemetery, looked all around her, and ran towards a freshly made grave.