The Years of Man
Long ago the world was still very young. One day an old man asked for time to live. A wise one gave him thirty good years. But the man found the time too short and asked for more. Just then the donkey, the dog and the monkey came to him.
The donkey said, "I am always tired, and I give you some of my years." The dog said, "I always guard the house, and my years are yours too." The monkey said, "I make everybody laugh, and you live my years too." The man took the gifts of the animals with great joy. So the life of the man became longer and different.
In his young days the man lived easily, and then he worked hard like the donkey. When he was old he guarded his house like the dog, and at the end he became a child like the monkey. All the animals watched this long life in great surprise. A person must learn to be patient at every age of life. Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.