C Heather Mcdonald

HEATHER Mc.DONALD.

Her name was Heather Mc.Donald, a Donkey of renown, with great long
ears, exquisite shape, and a lovely chocolate brown.
A large black cross upon her back, and a white star on her brow, she
was perfect and exquisite &;#8230; but! &;#8230;
She made an awful row.

Her voice was coarse and raucous, and created such a din, that no one
would come near her, no boy friend could she win.

When a Donkey Jack came calling he would smile and say " He-Haw ", and
Heather with a fluttering heart would answer with a - Roar!
On hearing her, the Jack would fly to search for pastures new. Poor
Heather, oh! &;#8230; She felt so sad and wondered what to do.
One day a passing Hedgehog asked, " Why do you bawl and bellow? "
" Bawl and bellow, " boomed out Heather, " You are a prickly fellow.
"

After the Hedgehog had passed on his way, she sat there and scratching
her head, Heather said to herself, " I know I'm not loved, is there
truth in the words that he said? "
All day and all night she thought of his words, in the morn the sun
rose in the sky&;#8230; Heather sat there dejected and looking
forlorn, tears fell to the ground from her eye.

" No one loves me, " cried Heather. " My voice is too loud,
Now I know, I wish I were dead! "
Then a small voice from somewhere said, " Heather don't cry- I will
help- I'm your friend- call me Fred. "
At this Heather jumped when she heard the small voice, for she thought
she was sitting alone. " I'm here ", said the voice, - " On your left,
in the tree, " and she looked, and she saw a small Gnome.

Page - 2 -

He was dress in dark green, with a smile on his face, on his head was a
cap of bright red, " Cheer up - dry your eyes, " said the Gnome with a
laugh, " I was listening and heard what you said."

He jumped from the tree, down onto her nose, bent down and he gave her
a kiss. " I think you are lovely, " said Fred the small Gnome. " So
Heather, - I grant you a wish ".
" To grant me a wish " said Heather, " is kind, but is this thing
possible Sire? To wish for a sweet and melodious voice, would satisfy
my hearts desire "

" T'is done " said Fred, " Your voice will be sweet, you'll find in the
morning you can, -- speak softly, and gentle, in addition to that, you
will also converse like a man."

And then in a flash the Gnome he had gone, all Heather could do was to
stare. Only the leaves on the trees could she see, - he'd vanished -
disappeared in thin air!

Next morning at dawn, Heather awoke; she stretched and got to her feet.
And thought of the Gnome and what he had said, cleared her throat, -
and started to speak!
She could not believe the sound that she made, it was soft, and gentle,
and new. Heather talked to the birds, the trees, and the sky; it was
all too good to be true.

Her friends, who avoided her voice in the passed, came visiting her
every day. They asked her to sing, to talk, and to chat, to run, and to
jump, and to play.

Heather was happy and time it passed by, then one day a Circus arrived.
There were Roundabouts - Swings - Side-shows and things, and a big tent
with Lions inside.

Page - 3 -

Heather wanted to go and look round all the tents, all her friends
said, " No, -- stay and play. You must not go Heather, it's dangerous,
not safe, you'll get caught and taken away."
" Pooh - Pooh " said Heather. " They'll never catch me, I'm too smart,
and too fast for those men." Said the wise Owl to Heather. " You fool!
- You fool! -- Stay with us, -- Change your mind, think again. "

Heather waited till dark, then moved quickly away, and walked softly
onto the night. Down to the town, were she heard all the noise, to the
Circus with all it's bright light.
The noise and the bustle made Heather's head ache, with the shouting,
the music and din. You could ride on a Dodgem, go down a slide, and
have fun on a brass and wood swing.

But Heather kept walking towards the Big Top, the tent were the Circus
performs. - There were Lions and Tigers, Elephants, Clowns, and a Goat
with a long twisted horn.

" Who are you? " Said the Goat. " What's your name? Where you from? --
Are you looking for work and a job?
Do you jump? - Can you dance? - Do you act? - Can you sing? " All
Heather could do was to nod.
" You've not much to say ". Said the Goat. " My names Bill. Are you
hoping to join in the show?
I wouldn't advise it. The work is quite hard, I'd tell you to pack up
and go. "
Just at that moment, out of the tent came a man with a whip in his
hand, he'd a scar on his face, and a patch on his eye, round his waist
was a bright Yellow band.
" Vas is dis. " -- Said the man in a strong German voice. " A beautiful
Donkey I find -- I vil train you and teach you, I claim you as mine."
Round her neck went a noose from behind.

Page - 4 -

Heather struggled and kicked, she pulled and she fought, she tried all
in vain to get free. The man with the patch said " I'll beat you and
whip you -- I'll show you that you must obey me. "

The whip in his hand rose and fell on her back, the lash cutting deep
causing pain. Heather twisted and turned to escape from the man, but he
hit her again and again.

And then round the corner came running a man, in a bright
Scarlet coat and top hat.
" I've caught you, -- you swine, " To the German he said,
" I'll soon put a stop to all that.

You are sacked, -- get out, -- leave the Circus at once, you cannot
whip creatures that way. Get your things. Pack your bags, you're not
fit to work here, with the Circus you just cannot stay.

Then the man with the patch, he started to shout, but the words they
stuck in his throat. He turned to start running,
Went up the air! ---

He was hit from behind by the Goat!

Poor Heather was shocked at the beating she'd had; she struggled to
stand on her feet. Heather turned to the man in the Redcoat and then,
--- in a mans voice she started to speak. ------------------

May I thank you kind sir for helping, and the service you rendered
today, please tell me how best I can serve you, and allow me this debt
to repay?
On hearing these words, the man could - not believe that this donkey
had spoken to him, he stood there amazed, with his hat in his hand, the
other hand rubbing his chin.

Page - 5 -

" Well! - Well! " Said the man, " What have we here? A Donkey that
talks like a man! -- Never before have I heard such a thing. --
What's your name? Tell me more if you can. "

The man stood and listened to Heather's long story, and why she decided
to roam. Of the Hedgehog and friends, and her voice, and the wish, and
the German, and Fred the small Gnome.

The man in the coat then sat down on the straw, while Heather her hopes
did relate. How she hoped she could join with the Circus, to perform, -
see the World, -- become great.

When Heather had finished, the man sat quite still, with a serious look
in his eye. He then stood -- stretched legs, --
Brushed the straw from his coat, -- looked at heather and said with a
sigh.

" Many times in the past have I heard these words said, from people who
want to be great. But the Circus like life's a charade, -- make
believe, -- to join us would be a mistake.

So Heather, go home, back were you belong," said the man with a smile
on his face. " This is no place for you, -- you'll be hurt if you stay,
you're a Donkey with beauty and grace."

Heather thanked him, then left, and went back to her friends, -- in the
tree was Fred the small Gnome.
" Ah! -- Heather," said Fred " I see you've returned, it's lovely to
have you back home. "

Page - 6 -

" I hope that you've finished your roaming, and before you take walks
you'll think twice.

So listen to Freddie my darling, to you I will give this advice.
" Don't try to be something quite different, from what God planned out
for you. Be kind, -- work hard, -- and be happy. To the world and
yourself please be. TRUE."

G.D.J.