Conclusion.
Reading edition
From that day my little master James seemed to love me more than ever, whilst I, in turn, did my very best to make myself useful and agreeable, not only to him, but to everyone about the place. I had no reason to repent of my reformation, for it gained me the esteem and affection of all. I continued to watch over the children, preserving them from several accidents, and protecting them against bad people and wicked animals.
Alfred was often at the castle, and he never forgot his promised visit to me, always bringing me some delicacy, an apple, a pear, bread and salt of which I was particularly fond, a handful of lettuce or some carrots—always something that he knew I fancied, which fully convinced me how much mistaken I had been in my former opinion of the poor boy, believing him bad, when he was only a little foolish and vain.
The idea of writing the story of my adventures was prompted by a series of conversations between Henry and his cousins; Henry always maintaining that I did not understand what I did nor why I did it, his cousins, James especially, as stoutly asserting the contrary. I profited by a very severe winter, which did not permit of my remaining out-doors, to jot down some of the most important events of my life. They may amuse you, perhaps, my young friends; at any rate, they will teach you, that if you wish faithful service, you must treat kindly those who serve you—that they who appear the most stupid are not always so—that a donkey like everything else, has a heart to love his masters and suffer from bad treatment, a will to be revenged or to show his affection—that it depends upon his masters to make him either happy or unhappy, a friend or an enemy, poor donkey as he is. I, myself, am very happy, loved by every one, and cared for as a friend by my little master James. I am beginning to grow old, but we donkeys sometimes live a long time, and just as long as I am able to walk and be of any use whatever, my services are at the disposal of my masters.
THE END.
John B. Piet, Publisher and Printer, Baltimore.
