Reading Notes B Week 14: The duration of life

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God was creating all the creatures of the earth and assigning them years of life.

How long shall I live asked the donkey.  I will give you 30 years said God.  Oh no, that is too many years to be carrying loads and working so hard!  So God only gave him 18 instead.

God next asked the dog, surely you want to live 30 years.  Oh no, that is too long said the dog.  After so many years of running all I could do is be in a corner, without my voice to growl and teeth to bite.  So God took away 12 years and gave him 18 as well.

Next was the monkey.  Surely the monkey wanted to live 30 years because he only had fun & didn't have to work.  But the monkey disagreed because 30 years was too long to have to make people laugh.  So God gave him 10 years instead and the monkey was happy.

Then man went to God and said I will give you 30 years.  Oh no, that is not enough time!  I get 30 years to start my life and then I will die?!  So God gave him the donkey's 18 years, the dog's 12 years, and the monkey's 10 years and said that is all.

Now man lives 70 years.  The first 30 years are his human years where he is healthy and happy.  The next 18 years are his donkey years where he receives burden on top of burden.  Next is the 12 dog years where he sits in a corner growling with no teeth.  Lastly are his 10 monkey years where he is weak-headed and foolish and only makes people laugh.

Bibliography:  The Duration of Life by the Brothers Grimm (Ashliman).  Weblink.

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