One day, a little boy's grandfather comes to him and says, "Come with me, boy. I am taking you to the market."
The boy is very excited. He says, "Oh Grandfather, that's where the gumdrops come from! Are we going to buy gumdrops?"
"No, boy," says the grandfather, "we need to buy a mule. Our mule is very old, and has served us very well, but it is time to let her rest now, and so we must buy another and I am hoping to teach you a valuable lesson about trade."
The boy is a little disappointed about the gumdrops, but his disappointment is quickly pushed aside by the realization that he has always been told he was too little to go to the market because it is very far away, and also because a mule is so much bigger and more important than a bag of gumdrops. He feels like he really is a BIG boy now, and this really pleases him.
So, off the boy and his grandfather go on their long journey together, and the boy is just so happy and excited. The spring air is crisp and snappy. The sun shines bright and warm on their faces, and the cool earth feels so good under his feet as he skips along.
Arriving at the market the boy is a little frightened, for there are so MANY people, and tents, and stands. He has never seen anything like it, nor ever been so far away from their family farm.
"Just hang on to my hand boy," says the grandfather, "we wouldn't want to become seperated."
Just then a strange looking man lurches toward the boy and says, "How would you like to but some gumdrops, boy? You like gumdrops, don't you?"
"Oh, yes I do," says the little boy, "more than just about anything else I can think of, but we are not here to buy gumdrops, sir. My family needs a new mule for the farm, and I must admit, that is far more important."
"So it is." says the peddler. "You are a smart lad. You know, my cousin sells livestock here in this market. If you would like to see him, he is way over on the other side of the square. You and your grand-papa should go and see him."
The grandfather thanks the peddler, and off they go seeking the cousin that sells livestock.
"I am very impressed, boy. I could see that you wanted to get some gumdrops, but you showed good judgement, putting the family's need of a new mule ahead of your own love of sweets. You really are growing up into a big boy. MAYBE, if we get a good price on a new mule, there will be enough money left to afford you some of the gumdrops you enjoy so much."
Before too long, they came upon the man they were looking for, and surely enough, he has 3 mules, all for sale. The owner notices the boy and his grandfather sizing up the mules he has for sale and quickly comments to the boy about one of them. "AHH, you see this one here? This mule is a good bargain! Doesn't eat too much! You can tell because she hardly has any teeth! She don't need many, because she hardly eats at all! See how her ribs are a-showin'? Yessiree, and she's a hard worker too. Has a long track-record of hard work!"
"What do you think, boy?" Asks the grandfather. "Do you think this mule will serve are farm well?"
The little boy looks squarely at the salesman and says, "No disrespect, sir, but I think this mule is older than the mule we already have. I don't think such a skinny old mule with hardly any teeth left is what my family needs."
The grandfather smiles broadly. He is very proud of his little grandson for not being too easilly fooled.
"How about this mule boy?" Asks the grandfather looking at the next animal. "This one looks much younger. Don't you think she'd be a good choice? I sure think she'd do very well."
"Wellllll . . ." starts the boy with some hesitation, "she is definately younger. Her coat shines brightly, showing she has been well fed and looked after . . ."
The grandfather is a little confused about the boy's reaction. "Well then, why such hesitation in your voice, boy?"
"Well, grandpa, I mean no disrespect, and maybe I don't know so much about mules, or maybe this is something you just didn't notice because you are much taller than me, but doesn't her leg look a little funny to you?"
Sure enough, it is clear that the animal had suffered a break that had healed poorly.
"Boy, I am so proud of you. This mule is lame. Had I not brought you along, I'd have made a terrible mistake. Well, how about this third mule, what do you think?"
"Well . . . " started the boy, "this too is a young mule, I think, with a good healthy coat, and teeth, and strong legs. The only thing I notice is that it's a boy mule. Is that a good thing or a bad thing grandfather?"
"Ohhhhh," exclaims the old man, "that is actually a very GOOD thing, because, you see, our mule is a girl mule, and all of our neigbors mules are girl mules, which is why we had to buy a new mule. No-one around us has a boy mule, or a stud mule we sometimes call it. With a stud mule, we can help our neigbors make new baby mules, and that will help everyone."
The grandfather buys the new mule and is so pleased with his grandson, but a little sad that he hasn't any money left to buy the boy a treat after having been so helpful.
As the boy and his grandfather are leaving the market, the first man they encountered stops them to congratulate them on having bought such a fine animal.
"Did you buy this mule from my cousin?" he asked.
"Yes sir we did." replied the little boy.
"Ahhh well I sure am appreciative to know that. You see, he does have a small debt to settle with me, and I think I shall go seek my repayment before he spends it all on rum! He's a good soul, but has a terrible habit, don't ya know. So pleased am I to know this, I would like to offer the boy a small bag of gumdrops as a token of my appreciation if that's okay with you," he says to the grandfather.
"Oh I think that would be a fine thing," says the grandfather. "I am very pleased with the young lad myself!"
The boy thanked the man for the gumdrops, and off the boy and the grandfather went on their long trek back home.
Shortly after leaving the market, the two encountered a woman who scoffed angrily at the grandfather.
"What in heaven's name is wrong with you, you old fool?!" She barked at the old man. "That boy is so much smaller than you, and for every step you take, he has to take 4 or 5 just to keep up. Haven't you thought of that? And what's more, your making him walk when you have a strong mule that would hardly even notice the weight of that tiny child on his back. You are a FOOL!"
The grandfather thinks, and though the woman didn't seem any too kind, he thinks to himself, "Maybe she has a point," so he lifts the boy onto the mule, and continues the trek home with the mule and the little boy in tow.
Several miles later, a man stops them on the road and rages at the little boy. "You are such a SELFISH LITTLE BRAT! Look at you, riding atop that mule, eating gumdrops without a care in the world, not even for your poor old grandfather that has worked so hard all of his life. I should think you'd let HIM ride on that mule! You are young and full of zeal, and yet there you sit like some spoiled little prince or something. You should be ashamed!"
The little boy DID feel badly, hearing it all put quite like that, and insisted his grandfather ride on the mule instead.
"Oh you are just a little boy," said the grandfather softly. "Besides, you don't even know the way home, so how would you guide the mule and not get lost?"
Flustered the little boy blurted out, "I am NOT a little boy anymore grandfather! I am a BIG boy now! Didn't I even help you to not buy the mule that was lame? You said so yourself! Besides, you will still be WITH me, so if I don't know which way to go, you can just tell me. PLEASE???"
The grandfather said, "Of course. You are right, boy. I didn't mean to say you were not a big boy. You are, and I am very proud of you. I will ride and you can lead."
The boy and his grandfather were happy again. They switched places, and the boy led them on, feeling bigger than ever.
As the boy was coming to the bridge over the river just outside of the little hamlet where the family farm was, one of their neigbors noticed them and put up a huge fuss.
"The two of you should be ashamed! That beast of burden is going to serve out the bulk of it's life laboring for you and your family, and you can't even give it the grace to make the journey back un-encumbered! For goodness sake, if you had any heart at all the two of you would CARRY that poor beast the rest of the way!"
The little boy began to cry, which was just about more than the old man could bear.
"Here boy, I have an idea. Fetch up that pole over there, and I'll get some good strong vine. You are not such a small child anymore, and perhaps we CAN carry our young mule the rest of the way."
The old farmer coaxed the mule down to a laying position, then gently rolled the young animal onto it's side, lashing it's front and rear legs together with the vine. He then slid the sapling pole through in order that he and his grandson might carry the beast by either end.
The two of them lifted from each end of the pole, and began crossing the bridge. Well, surely enough, the mule was none-to-comfortable with this arrangement in the first place, but as they were crossing the bridge, the mule saw the water rushing underneath and panicked. Kicking wildly the young mule broke it's binds, hit the bridge still thrashing, broke through the rail, fell in the river below . . . and drowned.
So, there is an important moral to this story. What is it? Well, I'm glad you asked.
You can please some of the people some of the time - bit if you try to please ALL of the people ALL of the time . . .
In the end, you will quite likely loose your ass.
Like the story goes, we can't please everyone ALL the time! LOLOL It's MY mule and I'll call it what I want! hehehe
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