VANKA'S DONKEY

A mischievous donkey had provoked the anger and fear of Vanka's wife, and her dislike bred more trouble from the donkey, a vicious circle. The moral of the tale might be summed up in the text, Love casts out fear, for Vanka's wife learned to be fond of the donkey, even after they had the horse she yearned for. The bold type and layout suggest material for beginning readers, but the significance of the story and the vocabulary are a bit beyond them, hence the inclusion under books to read aloud.