he,
And a creature more useful
There cannot be.

He knows the Cottager's
Wife and child,
And he loves to play
With that dog so wild;
And though sometimes
So staid and still,
He can roll in the meadow
With right good will.

He knows the road
To the market well,
Where garden vegetables
He goes to sell:
And though it is hilly,
And far, and rough,
He thinks--for a donkey,
It's well enough.

So he trudges along,
And little he cares
How hard he works,
Or how ill he fares!
Content when his home
Appears in sight,
If his kindly master
Smiles at night.

S. V. Dodds

The Donkey

Poor Donkey! I'll give him
A handful of grass;
I'm sure he's an honest,
Though stupid, old ass.
He trots to the market
To carry the sack,
And lets me ride all the
Way home on his back;
And only just stops
By the ditch for a minute,
To see if there's any
Fresh grass for him in it.

'Tis true, now and then
He has got a bad trick
Of standing stock-still,
And just trying to kick:
But then, poor old fellow!
You know he can't tell
That standing stock-still
Is not using me well;
For it never comes into
His head, I dare say,
To do his work first,
And then afterwards play.

No, no, my good donkey!
I'll give you some grass,
For you know no better,
Because you're an ass;
But what little donkeys
Some children must look,
Who stand, very like you,
Stock-still at their book,
And waste every moment
Of time as it passes--
A great deal more stupid
And silly than asses!

The Ride

Up and down on Neddy's back,
Taking turns they go,
Part the time with trot so fast,
Part with pace so slow.

Little sisters side by side,
Sharing each the fun and ride.
Neddy thinks, "it can't hurt me,
But gives the children fun, you see."
And so he lends himself that they
May happy be this pleasant day.

Old Jack, the Donkey

Old Jack was as sleek
And well looking an ass
As ever on common
Munched thistle or grass;
And--though 'twas not gaudy,
That jacket of brown--
Was the pet of the young
And the pride of the town.

And indeed he might well
Look so comely and trim,
When his young master, Joe,
Was so gentle to him;
For never did child
More affection b