The Lonely Donkey-- Part One

Dear Readers,

It is my pleasure to present The Lonely Donkey by Laurie Clauson, our first serialized story in The Blessing Gazette.

Miss Clauson, sixteen years of age, is a new student at Blessing School and dreams of becoming a writer.

Thorliff Bjorklund

Editor, Blessing Gazette

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The Lonely Donkey

By

Laurie Clauson

Sixteen years old

Part One of Four

One day long ago in the land of Herod, a little donkey slowly wandered around the field. He stood under a tree for awhile, but he was lonesome there. He waded into the small creek for a bit, but still he was terribly lonesome. Nothing at all seemed to ease his lonely heart.

Suddenly Donkey pricked his long, floppy ears. Had he heard something? Yes, it was his master calling. Maybe there would be an adventure, someone who would keep him from being lonely.

"Come, Donkey, here, Donkey," called the master.

Donkey trotted up to the gate and hung his head over the bars. "Hee haw," brayed Donkey. "I am here."

Master walked over to the gate, deep in conversation with a strange man. Donkey looked at him curiously. He looked like a kind, friendly man.

"See," said Master, "Donkey isn’t really very large but he is very strong and sturdy. He would suit your purpose well."

Donkey jerked his head. They were speaking of him. He switched his tail happily at the compliment.

"Yes," said the stranger, "I think he will do." And with that, the stranger counted three gold pieces into Master’s hand.

Master went to the stable and got a soft halter. He fitted it on to Donkey’s head, handed the rope to the stranger and gave Donkey a farewell slap on the rump. "He’s yours now, I know he will do his best for you." Master walked away.

Donkey stood and stared at the stranger in a puzzled way. What had Master done?

The stranger looked at Donkey and saw the bewilderment on Donkey’s long, lonely face. "You belong to me now," said the stranger. "My name is Joseph and soon you will meet Mary. You will love her, Donkey. I bought you because we must go on a long journey. You will carry Mary to Bethlehem."

Donkey brightened considerably. Here was an adventure and someone to keep him from being lonely.

So Joseph took the reins and Donkey followed him quite willingly, over the hill, into the City of Nazereth. They walked slowly through the streets so that Donkey could see all the hustle and bustle of the market place, and watch the caravans come into the city. All this rush was so new to Donkey that soon he was quite happy to be on a small, quiet street, pacing down the cobblestones.

"Soon we’ll be home, Donkey," said Joseph.

They turned a corner and entered a small courtyard. There was a tree in the middle and a cozy stable to one side. A young woman came out of the door on the other side and walked quickly toward them.

"Mary," said Joseph, "this is Donkey. He will carry you to Bethlehem."

Mary rubbed a favorite spot behind Donkey’s long, floppy ears. "Welcome home," she said. And Donkey knew he would like it here with these people. Donkey grew to like it in the courtyard just as he knew he would. Everyday Mary would bring him a carrot and tickled his ears for awhile. He wasn’t quite so lonely anymore.

The one day Joseph and Mary bustled around the home, packing things, closing the house and saying goodbye to friends. Donkey remembered this, "you are going to take Mary to Bethlehem" and he was very, very happy.

Early the next morning, before the sun even up, the three of them left Nazareth on the long trip to Bethlehem. The morning air was cool and Donkey wanted to prance along the road. The only reason he walked was because he wanted Mary to have a smooth ride. Every once in a while, Mary would lean forward and rub his neck. Donkey was very proud to be carrying her on his back.

At noon the travelers stopped and had dinner. Donkey walked sedately to a near-by spring and had a drink. Then he nibbled some lush grass. Everything was fine and peaceful but even still, Donkey was lonesome. Mary and Joseph were together but he was all by himself.

Joseph soon saddled him up again and placed Mary on his back. He gave Donkey a reassuring pat and off they went. The afternoon trek was long and uneventful. The travelers were hot and thirsty but no one complained.

That evening when they stopped for the night, Donkey was dusty and tired. He wished a bit for the cool running stream in his old pasture. When he began remembering, he began to get lonely. The more he thought, the lonelier he got. Things just got too much for poor, little Donkey and a big tear rolled down his long, sad face. It dropped off the end of his soft nose and fell into the straw.

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Stop back next week for Part Two of The Lonely Donkey!