fables folktales · Ages 6-8

The Horse Who Carried Nothing Until It Was Too Late

A horse refuses to share a donkey's load, then must carry everything after the donkey collapses from exhaustion.

The whole story

1. At sunrise, a chestnut horse and a gray donkey left the farm. The donkey carried two baskets. The horse carried nothing.

2. The donkey’s baskets bumped against his sides. “Could you carry one for a while?” he asked. The horse looked at his empty back. “I am keeping it fresh,” he said.

3. They walked past the meadow. The horse pranced ahead, while the donkey took shorter steps. “We will be there soon,” the donkey called.

4. By noon, the road climbed through the woods. The donkey stopped beneath an oak. “Just one basket,” he said. The horse shook his mane. “You can carry them both.”

5. The hill grew steeper. The donkey’s ears drooped, but he climbed. The horse’s back stayed empty, and the village seemed close enough to touch.

6. At last, the donkey’s legs folded. He sank onto the soft grass and could not rise. The horse stood very still.

7. The horse bent his knees. He lifted one basket onto his back, then the other. “I should have helped sooner,” he whispered.

8. The horse carried everything to the village. The donkey walked beside him, rested and safe. From then on, the horse never waited for help to become a burden.

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