Fourth Grade
Worksheets
The Man, the Boy, and the Donkey
One sunny day a man decided to go to the market in the village. He needed to get some supplies for the farm. He went to the stable and got his donkey. The donkey would be able to carry the man's purchases on its back for the trip home.
The man's son looked outside and saw his father about to set off for the village. He hurried to put on his shoes and run outside.
"Dad! Dad!" he called, waving his arms. "Where are you going? Can I come too?"
The father stopped in the shade of a large tree and turned around. "I'm just going to the market, but if you want to come, you can. Get your hat. It's a hot day."
The man, the boy, and the donkey headed down the dirt road that led to the village. There was a sweet-smelling breeze that ruffled their hair but didn't disturb the dust that lay in the road. Birds sang in the trees, dogs barked now and then, and the fields were tall with corn and other grains.
A farmer tending his fields looked up as they passed. "What's wrong with you? Don't you know that donkeys are for riding?"
Startled, the man put his son on the donkey's back. Then they continued down the road.
A group of men were mending a fence that ran alongside the road. One of them spoke loudly. "Would you look at that lazy boy riding a donkey while his father walks?"
The man frowned. He took his son off the donkey and climbed on himself. The boy shrugged and walked beside the donkey as they drew closer to the village.
