HOW THE ASS GOT HIS REPUTATION.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume LIV, Issue 6721, 21 July 1931, Page 2

HOW THE ASS GOT HIS REPUTATION.

i *■ i 1 j At the beginning of things, when : the world was young, the donkey was; esteemed by nil the tribes of men as! : the wisest of animals. ! I The good Sheik Kl-Hta Shun-Air , i owned a μ-reat herd of these sagac- ; ious beasts, which was the pride and i joy of his life. Other Sheiks came from all around ■to listen and marvel at the wisdom of Ihe herd. •At such a lime came even the Prophet himself—-most learned and I wi-e of all the sons of the East. : With much flowing- pride El-Sta- , Shun-Air led him out to the herd and said :— : "Behold, 0 Prophet, the wise and talented asses. Converse with them, j tost them and see if they are not verily wiser than 40 trees full of 1 J owls." j Then tie Prophet addressed the ' asses: "Let us test your wisdom," said he. ''answer me this question : •What should an ass require for a ihrce days journey '.' " 1 And they counselled among them--1 selves and then made reply : "For a ■ three days.' journey, O Phophet, any; I should reqhire six bushels of hay l; and three bags of dates." \ ■ \ "Very μ-ood," quoth the Phophet, '■"That smimlolh like a fair and pro- ■ ; per price." ', • ! Whereupon Kl-Hta-Shun-Air broke : into loud chuckles and said : "Did T • not tell you they are passing wise?" i The Prophet answered, "Wait," I 1 ;■ nci lie again addressed the asses, '! "I have to make a three days' journey, ■ ■ .-i I ivil! not μ-ivo ymi six bundles of Mkiv an;l three bags of dates for -, making it. Let him who will μ-o for . less, stand forth.' , -; ■And behold, they all stood forth .'and l>> talk at once. One liwt.Lild go for six bundles of hay and . r.no bag of dates, until finally one i especially long-eared ass agtccd to μ-o : I'm- oiie bundle of hay. -! Tlien spoke the Jhophet : "Focil," i : quoth he, "You cannot even live for ; thiee days on one bundle of hay, i much le-.s profit fn.nj the journey." •| "Ti ue" replied the long-eared one, i '•■but I want the order." a'. And from that far-off day to this, i asses have been known as fools, and :t-price cutlers have been known as p, asses. k (Kxtract from Public Construction s News of Illinois Municipal Contrac:l turs' Association.) •