The Duration of Life

When God had made the world and was about to decide how long each creature would live, the donkey came and asked, "Lord, how long will I live?" "Thirty years," answered God. "Does that satisfy you?" "Ah, Lord," said the donkey, "that is a long time. Think of my hard life!

I carry heavy loads from morning to night, drag sacks of grain to the mill so others can eat bread, and get nothing but hits and kicks for my trouble. Please take away some of this long time." So God felt sorry for him and took away eighteen years.

The donkey went away comforted.

Then the dog came. "How long do you want to live?" God asked. "Thirty years seemed too many for the donkey, but you will be happy with that." "Lord," answered the dog, "is that your will? Think about how I have to run—my feet won't last that long. And when I lose my bark and my teeth for biting, what will I do but lie in a corner and growl?" God saw that he was right and freed him from twelve years.

Next came the monkey. "You will surely live thirty years willingly," said God. "You don't have to work like the donkey and the dog; you will always enjoy yourself." "Ah, Lord," answered the monkey, "it may seem so, but it is different. When it rains porridge, I have no spoon. I have to play silly tricks and make faces that make people laugh, and if they give me an apple and I bite into it, it is sour! Sadness often hides behind laughter. I cannot last for thirty years." God was kind and took off ten years.

At last, a joyful, healthy, and strong man appeared. He begged God to set his time. "You will live thirty years," said the Lord. "Is that enough?" "What a short time!" cried the man. "When I have built my house and my fire burns on my own hearth, when I have planted trees that blossom and bear fruit, and I am just about to enjoy my life, I am to die!

O Lord, make my time longer." "I will add the donkey's eighteen years," said God. "That is not enough," replied the man. "You will also have the dog's twelve years." "Still too little!" "Well, then," said God, "I will give you the monkey's ten years as well, but no more." The man went away, but he was not satisfied.

So man lives seventy years. The first thirty are his human years, which pass quickly. Then he is healthy, cheerful, works with pleasure, and enjoys his life. Then come the donkey's eighteen years: one burden after another is laid on him, he carries the grain that feeds others, and hits and kicks are his reward. Then come the dog's twelve years: he lies in a corner, growls, and has no teeth left to bite with. Finally, the monkey's ten years end his life. Then man is weak-minded and foolish, does silly things, and becomes the children's joke.