Once upon a time there lived a donkey. His master sold herbs in the market. The donkey worked very hard each day. But his master wanted the donkey to work harder. Yet the master only gave him a little bit of food. The donkey was not happy.
The donkey decided he’d had enough. He did not want to work for his master any longer. Only one person could help.
The donkey searched for Jupiter, the god of the sky and rain. "Please give me a new master," begged the donkey. The donkey explained why he wanted a new master.
"I will give you a new master," Jupiter said firmly. "But you will regret making this wish." The donkey was too happy to care.
The donkey’s new master was a brickmaker. The donkey had to pull heavy carts of bricks every day. The donkey’s master wanted him to work harder. He did not give the donkey any food or water.
The donkey was not happy with his new master either. He went to see Jupiter again. "Please give me a new master," begged the donkey.
"I will give you a new master," Jupiter said firmly. "But this is the last time I will grant your wish. This will be your last and only master." Again the donkey was too happy to care.
The donkey’s new master was a tanner. He caught and killed animals. Then he skinned them and sold their hides. This master was the worst of all three. The donkey remembered Jupiter’s words: "You will regret wishing for a new master."
"Oh, it would have been better if I had stayed with the other masters," the donkey cried. "I may have been hungry, or I may have been tired from too much work, but this master will skin me like his other animals. He will make use of me even after I die!"
The donkey learned an important lesson. If you are not happy in one place, you will not find happiness in another.