Mansour and the Donkey

One hot afternoon in North Africa, Mansour comes to town to sell watermelons. He sees a beautiful girl with big brown eyes. Her name is Marissa, and she lives in a big house. Mansour thinks, “She is beautiful. I want to marry her.” But he does not have much money. He only has twenty coins in his pocket.

The next day Mansour goes to Marissa’s house. He wears his best clothes and takes flowers. Marissa’s father opens the door. Mansour says, “Sir, I want to marry your daughter.” The father smiles and asks, “Do you have money?” Mansour answers, “I have twenty coins.” The father shakes his head. “Come back when you have five hundred coins,” he says seriously.

Mansour visits his uncle, hoping for help. His uncle is very old, thin, and not rich. His house is broken, and his white donkey looks sad and hungry. Mansour gives the donkey some hay, and the animal scratches the ground with its foot. “Are you saying thank you?” asks Mansour kindly. He cares for the donkey and talks with his uncle, but there is no money in the house.

Some weeks later, Mansour learns that his uncle has died. The old house now belongs to him. Mansour and the donkey return there. The donkey scratches the ground again and again. Mansour wonders, “Are you telling me something?” He takes an old spade and begins to dig. He digs all day, and suddenly he finds a heavy wooden box hidden under the earth.

Mansour opens the box and sees gold coins inside. It is his uncle’s hidden treasure. “Now I have five hundred coins!” he cries with joy. He thanks the donkey for showing him the secret place. “You are a good friend, a very good friend,” says Mansour. With the treasure, he can finally marry Marissa and live a happy life.