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A Miller, accompanied by his young Son, was driving his Ass to

market in hopes of finding a purchaser for him. On the road they

met a troop of girls, laughing and talking, who exclaimed, "Did

you ever see such a pair of fools? To be trudging along the dusty

road when they might be riding!" The Miller thought there was

sense in what they said; so he made his Son mount the Ass, and

himself walked at the side. Presently they met some of his old

cronies, who greeted them and said, "You'll spoil that Son of

yours, letting him ride while you toil along on foot! Make him

walk, young lazybones! It'll do him all the good in the world."

The Miller followed their advice, and took his Son's place on the

back of the Ass while the boy trudged along behind. They had not

gone far when they overtook a party of women and children, and

the Miller heard them say, "What a selfish old man!