A man and his little son packed their knapsacks and set off on a two-day trip with their donkey. They strapped the two knapsacks across the donkey’s back. The little boy walked ahead leading the donkey, and his dad came up behind, encouraging the animal with a little stick.

They found a man sitting alongside the road and he asked them where they were going. They told him and he said, What are you walking for? Sit on the donkey and give your feet a rest. Donkeys are for carrying people and things, and they’re strong.”

So they both hopped on, much to the discomfort of the animal. But a policeman stopped them and said, “One of you better get off that donkey before I arrest you for cruelty to animals.” So the boy stayed on and the father walked along. The donkey was pleased with his lightened load and quickened his pace, leaving the man panting. They came upon an old woman carrying firewood.  She saw the man out ashamed of yourself? A strong boy sitting down and taking it easy and letting your hardworking dad walk himself to death. Get off that donkey.” So he did, and the father got on.

It wasn’t long before a farmer said to him, “Aren’t you ashamed of sitting down and letting your little boy running to keep up with a donkey? Why don’t you walk; you, you’ve got longer legs.”

So no matter what the two of them did, people criticized. They even tried to carry the donkey, and were thought to be really stupid. So they let donkey go back home and they carried their own rucksacks and went along on foot.