Running Away from Home
添加时间：2020-11-09 20:11:17 浏览：2394
A donkey had grown so old and feeble that he was of no more use to his master.
One night he heard his master and mistress talking together.
"I wonder you still keep that donkey," said the woman;
"he is of no use to you, and you only waste your money buying food for him."
"That is true," answered the man. "I would do well to get rid of him. I might sell his hide to the tanner."
When the donkey heard this he knew it was time for him to be going, if he wished to keep his skin for his own use.
He pushed the stable-door open with his nose, and made off down the road without saying good-bye to anyone.
"I may be too weak to work," he said, "but my voice is still strong. I am going to Bremen to become a town musician."
He had not gone far when he saw an old dog lying beside the road and whining.
"Well, my friend?" said the donkey, "what ails you? You seem to be in trouble."
"Trouble indeed," answered the dog.
"I have grown so old and stiff that I am no longer able to run with the pack, so my master had no more use for me.
He drove me away and threw stones after me. What is to become of me now I do not know.
If my master would not keep me I am sure no one else will."
"Do not trouble yourself over that," said the donkey.
"I am going to Bremen to be a musician, and if you like you shall come along and sing with me.
I know you have a fine voice, and we two together may make our fortunes."
The dog was pleased with this idea.
He got to his feet, and he and the donkey went on together in company.
A little while after they came to where a cat sat in the grass by the roadside, looking as sad and doleful as a rainy day in fall.
"What is the matter with you, my good lady?" asked the donkey.
"You look as though all the cream were sour and all the rats were dead."
"There is no cream for me nowadays," said the cat, "and though there are plenty of rats I am too old to catch them.
I am no longer quick and active, and I would rather sit by the fire and purr.
For this reason my mistress has driven me out of the house with a broom, and I have no place to go.
What would you advise me to do in such a case?"
"Come with us," said the donkey.
"We are going to Bremen to be musicians, and if you choose to come along and join your voice with ours we shall be glad to have you."
The cat was delighted, and leaping out into the road it trotted along beside the others.