The mob, anticipating great fun, shouted their consent, and
accordingly, when the next day came, the two rival jokers were in their
places.

The hero of the previous day went first, and the hearers, more pleased
than ever, fairly roared with delight.

Then came the turn of the Countryman, who having a Pig carefully
concealed under his cloak, so that no one would have suspected its
existence, vigorously pinched its ear with his thumbnail, and made it
squeak with a vengeance.

"Not half as good--not half as good!" cried the audience, and many
among them even began to hiss.

"Fine judges you!" replied the Countryman, rushing to the front of the
stage, drawing the Pig from under his cloak, and holding the animal up
on high. "Behold the performer that you condemn!"



The Old Man, His Son, and the Ass

An Old Man and his Little Boy were once driving an Ass before them to
the next market-town, where it was to be sold.

"Have you no more wit," said a passerby, "than for you and your Son to
trudge on foot and let your Ass go light?" So the Man put his Boy on
the Ass, and they went on again.