Story teller

There once was a merry farmer who had purchased an ass to carry things for him. One day he merrily traveled to town, because he needed to purchase salt. Although he had done this many times this was the first time he was doing it with the ass. There were lots of obstacles such as hills and streams but he was not very worried. All went well on the way there but on the way back........ Well that was a different story.

After getting to town the farmer went to the store because he was going to get salt there. He had not been there recently, so he talked awhile with his friend Charley, who was the man at the counter.

“Our sponges are on sale, would you like to buy some?” Charley asked. “Although you came for salt, I’m sure you could use them” he added.

“No, not today I’m just buying salt” the farmer answered. “I appreciate it though” The ass was very lazy and did not like at all when the farmer put the salt on his back. So, when they came to a stream, the ass thought of something. He purposely fell down into the water and let the water wash away the salt. Immediately the farmer realized what the ass was trying to do, so he triumphantly led the ass back to town.

As soon as he got back to town he immediately burst through the door of Charley’s store because he needed some sponges. He asked “Do you think I can still buy some of your sponges that are on sale?”

Charley, who was wondering why he was back, asked “Why did you come back for sponges so soon?” Soon the farmer was telling Charley the whole story and what he was going to do with the sponges. Charley understood what the farmer was doing and willingly sold the sponges to the grateful farmer. Again the ass purposely fell into the stream, but when he rose instead of finding his load lighter he found his load much heavier. The farmer led his ass home smiling to himself. This “prize” that the ass had thought he would like, was now despised.