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Only a Donkey

00:15

Hello, my name is Carolyn and I am an Education Officer here at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne.

00:22

We look forward to sharing some stories with you during the school holidays.

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Today, I am going to read Only a Donkey by Celeste Walters with illustrations by Patricia Mullins.

00:38

All the animals were happy at the farm, except the donkey.

00:44

‘You’re useless,’ the dog barked.

00:47

The goat said, ‘You’re weak.’

00:50

‘Donkey’s have ears like wings,’ bleated the sheep.

00:54

And the animals laughed. Especially the bull.

01:01

That night in his stable, the small donkey dreamed.

01:05

He saw himself walking a great open road,

01:09

a road that would lead him past township and village

01:14

to the place in his dreaming where magic would be…

01:21

As soon as the sun rose, the donkey set out.

01:25

‘Donkey, where are you going?’ the animals cried.

01:31

‘To look for the magic,’ the donkey replied.

01:35

‘Wait for us,’ neighed the horse. ‘We must go with him too. He’s only a donkey.

01:42

He’s too muddle headed to be on his own.’

01:45

And the animals laughed. Especially the bull.

01:54

Down the highway they travelled.

01:56

The morning was hot.

01:58

The cow walked behind with the sheep and the goat.

02:02

In the cart it was crowded.

02:06

The dog bit the cat.

02:08

The cat scratched the rooster.

02:11

‘I’m pregnant,’ she spat, ‘and you pecked at my tail.’

02:18

‘’We’re thirsty, we’re tired,’ the animals whined.

02:22

‘Cow give us some milk.’

02:25

But the brown cow replied, ‘My milk’s for my calf.’

02:31

She kicked up the dirt, the dust blinded the goat, who tripped over and fell.

02:39

‘It’s hard to see magic here,’ grumbled the bull.

02:47

Past township and village the animals went.

02:50

Throughout the long morning the horse dragged the cart.

02:55

The cat hissed, ‘Go faster,’ as black feathers flew

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because of a bone that the rooster had found.

03:05

‘There’s no magic anywhere,’ snorted the bull.

03:12

At last they arrived at a wide city street

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with shops and tall buildings, where buses rolled by.

03:21

They came to a park and they crossed on the grass.

03:27

‘But where is the magic?’ the animals cried.

03:31

‘There’s only a statue that’s sitting on stone!’

03:35

They yowled and they growled and they stamped and they spat.

03:40

‘Let’s go,’ moaned the goat. ‘It’s too hot standing here.’

03:45

They went to stomp off, but the donkey said, ‘Wait.’

03:57

The animals turned.

03:59

In silence they listened. In silence they heard a voice from the statue.

04:05

The bronze donkey spoke.

04:08

‘I was a donkey who served in a war

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that was fought long ago in a place far away,

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and many young soldiers who fell would have died,

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expect for one man who just followed his heart.

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At the sound of his voice I was willingly led.

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With his hand on my halter, sure-footed I trod.

04:40

Day and night, back and forth, through smoke and through gunfire we carried the injured and dying to safety.

04:49

Day and night, back and forth, on that rough track in April together we saved over 300 men.

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They’ve said we are heroes,

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we’re seen on medallions

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as symbols of sacrifice, courage and strength.

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He was all of these things, yet he gave me his trust—and I was only a donkey.'

05:21

The animals stood with their heads bending low.

05:24

In silence they moved off.

05:27

The goat limped behind.

05:29

‘Take my place in the cart,’ said the dog. ‘I will walk.’

05:34

‘I think I see magic,’ reflected the bull.

05:42

At the side of the road was a small water trough.

05:46

‘Let the old horse drink too,’ said the cat to the duck.

05:51

‘He has pulled us all day and there’s sweat on his flank.’

05:57

‘I think I see magic again,’ said the bull.

06:03

Up the highway they went in the dust and the heat.

06:07

They stopped for a while in the shade of a tree.

06:11

‘Look here,’ squealed the pig, ‘on the table there’s food!’

06:16

‘Make sure,’ said the sheep, ‘there’s enough for us all.’

06:21

‘I know I see magic now,’ chortled the bull.

06:30

‘The cat’s had her babies,’ the duck quacked with joy.

06:36

The doves hovered over them so they’d be cool.

06:39

And the alpaca hummed, ‘If the kittens get cold they can rest on my wool.’

06:45

‘More and more I see magic,’ decided the bull.

06:52

Up lumbered the cow. ‘If you need more milk, Cat, I have plenty to give.’

07:00

She paused, then she said, ‘And to anyone else who is thirsty as well.’

07:06

‘More and more I see magic,’ repeated the bull.

07:14

Then, ‘Wait!’ the bull roared.

07:17

All the animals stopped as he clumped to the front.

07:21

‘You are worn out, Old Horse, move aside and I’ll pull.

07:25

The smallest among us can ride on my back,

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make room in the cart for the ones who have walked.’

07:34

‘Now we all can see magic,’ the animals sang.

07:40

That night in his stable the small donkey heard,

07:44

‘Good night, pleasant dreams,’ and, ’Sleep safely, my friend.’

07:49

He closed both his eyes. He fell fast asleep.

07:54

And all the animals were happy at the farm—especially the donkey.

08:00

Thank you for sharing Storytime with us.

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