CHAPTER V.
All the next winter I had no one to take care of me. I had to live in the forest, where I found scarcely enough to keep me from dying of hunger and thirst. I had plenty of time to think how wicked I’d been; how happy I was until I had given myself over to laziness, and spitefulness, and revenge; and to make up my mind to turn over a new leaf if ever I got the chance.
When the spring came, I went one day to a village on the edge of the forest, and was surprised to find quite a commotion there. The people were walking up and down; everybody had on his Sunday clothes; and, what was stranger still, all the donkeys in the neighborhood seemed to be there. They were sleek and fat, their heads were decorated with flowers and leaves, and not one of them was in harness or had a rider.
I trotted up to see if I could find out what all this was about, when suddenly one of the boys who were standing there saw me, and shouted,—
“Oh, I say, look here! here’s a fine donkey!”
“My word!” said another, “how well groomed he is! and how fat and well fed!” and they roared with laughter.
“I suppose he’s come to run in the donkey race,” said a third, “but he won’t win the prize! No fear!”
I was very much annoyed at these rude jokes and personal remarks; but I thought I should enjoy taking part in the race, so I listened again.