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There was once a man who had an Ass and a Lap-dog. The Ass was

housed in the stable with plenty of oats and hay to eat and was

as well off as an ass could be. The little Dog was made a great

pet of by his master, who fondled him and often let him lie in

his lap; and if he went out to dinner, he would bring back a

tit-bit or two to give him when he ran to meet him on his return.

The Ass had, it is true, a good deal of work to do, carting or

grinding the corn, or carrying the burdens of the farm: and ere

long he became very jealous, contrasting his own life of labour

with the ease and idleness of the Lap-dog. At last one day he

broke his halter, and frisking into the house just as his master

sat down to dinner, he pranced and capered about, mimicking the

frolics of the little favourite, upsetting the table and smashing

the crockery with his clumsy efforts. Not content with that, he

even tried to jump on his master's lap, as he had so often seen

the dog allowed to do.