The Donkey and the Gardener
Long ago an impatient donkey worked for an old gardener. Every morning the donkey got up early and carried heavy vegetable baskets. The gardener gave him little food but always wanted more work. The donkey was never happy and complained about his life every day. At last he looked at the sky and prayed for another master. The sky god heard his voice and sold him to a potter.
With his new master he carried heavy clay instead of light vegetables. The loads were so heavy that the poor donkey's back hurt badly. "This man is much worse than the gardener!" cried the tired animal. The donkey begged again and asked the god for another master. This time the god gave him to a leather seller. The tanner gave him more work and heavier loads than the potter.
In the shop the donkey saw animal skins and became very afraid. At that moment he understood: the tanner killed animals for their skins. He remembered his days with the gardener and saw his own mistake. "I want my old master again, because here I fear death," he said. But now it was too late and the good old days were gone.
A person must see the value of his things before he loses them.
Better the devil you know than the devil you don't.