Roy E. Howard, Ph.D.
Gallup Graduate Studies Center, Western New Mexico University
e-mail | Vita

I tell this story with two languages because I want everyone to understand. If you don't understand every word, don't worry, I promise, you will understand the story.

A man and his son were on their way to market with their burro. As they were walking along, a neighbor called out to them, y él hombre les dijo al señor y su hijo::
"You fools, what is a burro for but to ride upon?"

¡Ay, el pobre hombre! No le gustaba que le llamaran insensato, así que, hizo que su hijo se montara al burro. With the boy properly seated on the burro they went on their way.

Soon they passed a group of men, and one of them called out: "Look at that lazy kid, letting his father walk while he rides".

¡Ay, el pobre muchacho, que le llamaran perezoso! Así que, el mismo padre se montó al burro. So they went on with the boy walking while the man rode. But they hadn't gone far when they passed two women, one of whom said to the other: "Shame on that lazy lout to let his poor little son trudge along".

¡Ay, el pobre hombre que le regañan por dejar caminar a su hijo! No sabía que hacer, pero puso su hijo en frente de él sobre el burro. So they went on, both riding the burro. By this time they had come to the town, and the passers-by began to jeer and point at them. The man stopped and asked what they were scoffing at. The men said: "Aren't you ashamed of yourself for overloading that poor burro of yours, you and your hulking son?"

¡Ay, el pobre burro, ¿porqué no se dieron cuenta de la carga que le impusierion? The man and boy got off and tried to think what to do. They thought and thought, till at last they cut down a pole, tied the burro's feet to it, and raised the pole and the burro to their shoulders.

Con el pobre burro colgado del palo siguieron su viaje, pero la gente se reía más. They went along amid the laughter of all who met them till they came to Market Bridge, when the burro, getting one of his feet loose, kicked out and caused the boy to drop his end of the pole. In the struggle the burro fell over the bridge, and his fore-feet being tied together, he was drowned. ¡Ay, el pobre burro, ¡ahogado por tener las patas atadas!

"That will teach you," said a man who had followed them:

Roy E. Howard, Ph.D.
Gallup Graduate Studies Center, Western New Mexico University
e-mail | Vita