Once upon a time, in a quiet little village, there lived an old man who kept two animals in his barn: a gentle donkey and a clever goat. Every day, the old man fed them, cared for them, and relied on them to help with his work.
But the goat was not at peace. Deep in his heart, he believed the donkey received more attention and kindness. The donkey, he thought, was special. This feeling slowly turned into jealousy, and the goat grew more and more uneasy with each passing day.
One evening, as the barn settled into silence, the goat sighed and walked over to the donkey. In a soft, sorrowful voice, he said,
“Oh, poor brother donkey, I feel so sorry for you.”
The donkey lifted his head in surprise.
“Sorry for me? Why? I’m doing just fine,” he replied.
The goat shook his head gently, wearing a look of false concern.
“You may not notice it,” he said, “but think about how hard your life really is. From morning till night, you turn the millstone, carry heavy loads on your back, and work without rest. Don’t you ever deserve some peace? If I were in your place, I wouldn’t endure it any longer. The next time I passed a ditch, I’d pretend to lose my balance and fall in. Surely then, I’d be allowed to rest for a few days.”
The goat’s words planted a seed in the donkey’s mind. That night, the donkey lay awake, thinking. It was true—he was always tired. Perhaps a little rest wouldn’t hurt after all.
A few days later, as the donkey walked near a ditch, he remembered the goat’s advice.
“A little rest won’t do any harm,” he thought.
And with that, he stumbled on purpose and fell into the ditch.
But things did not go as he had imagined. He rolled down hard, scraping and bruising himself badly. He was hurt and helpless.
When the old man found his donkey, he was filled with sorrow. Seeing the poor animal in pain, he quickly called for a veterinarian. After examining the donkey carefully, the veterinarian spoke in a serious tone.
“This cannot be cured with simple medicine,” he said. “If you wish to save him, you must do exactly as I say.”
Anxiously, the old man asked,
“Tell me what to do. My donkey is very dear to me. I cannot manage without him.”
The veterinarian replied slowly,
“You must boil the liver of a goat and give the broth to the donkey. It is the only way.”
Believing there was no other choice, the old man made a painful decision. To save the donkey, he sacrificed the goat.
And so, the goat’s clever scheme led to his own end. His jealousy and deceit cost him his life.
This gentle bedtime tale reminds us that those who wish harm upon others often fall into the traps they set themselves.
Enjoy another bedtime story: The Great Escape at the Sugar Factory