Aesop's Fables - The Ass and the Lap-dog

The Ass and the Lap-dog

   This fable is from Aesop's fables... This is a very interesting story from Aesop's fables. In every Aesop's fables, there must a lesson for us. we consider that as the moral of the story at the end.

   The Ass and the Lap-dog

   Once there was a farmer owned an ass and a lap-dog. The ass worked hard all day, pulling heavy loads. But he was well looked after, and had a warm, comfortable stable, with plenty of fresh hay to eat and water to drink.

   The lap-dog stayed with his master all day, and lived in the house with him. He did no work, but was made much of, and even allowed to sit on the master's lap. 

   The ass saw the lap-dog leading a life of leisure, being petted by the master, and being given choice tidbits of food from the master's own plate, and the ass grew jealous of the lap-dog. 

   “I wish the master would love me as much, and give me as much attention as he does the lap-dog,” sighed the ass.

   “I work hard all day, much harder than that lap-dog who does nothing at all except shake his tail and flatter on the master, and yet it seems the master cares more for the dog than for me. Perhaps if I too behave like the dog, and shake my tail and jump on the master, the master will start loving me as much as he does the dog.” The ass decided to wait for his chance. 

   One day, when he was left unattended while the farmer and all the farmhands were at their midday meal, the ass broke his halter and ran into the farmhouse kitchen. There the farmer sat at table. The ass rushed up to him and began shaking his tail strongly, and knocked off all the tableware from the table. He then started jumping around and playing like the little dog, and finally put himself down on the farmer's lap. The shocked farmer shouted for help. The farmhands came running in and dragged the ass off to his stable, and gave him a beating he did not forget the rest of his life.

The moral of the story: It is best to do his own job and should not follow the others.

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