They thought back on the tales that the soldier had told. They remembered Hazel, the gentle Bethlehem donkey, who used the last of her strength helping those who needed her. They remembered the donkey who stood on the mountain and accepted suffering so that others would not know pain. They remembered the donkey with a hundred names, the sturdy friend of Jack who proved that the most humble being can have the most courageous heart. They gazed at the soldier, who said, 'I fear that John will be sorry he gave the silver donkey to me. The silver donkey belongs to the trustworthy and the brave. Sonya Hartnett
About This Quote

The soldier who tells the tale is Jack, the protagonist in this story. Jack was the only son of rich lord. He became good at everything but when his father died, he was left penniless without his inheritance. With no choice left to him, he became a soldier to earn money for himself and his family.

When he returned home after many years, his family was gone and no one could remember him. Meanwhile, Jack met a young man who was being sold as a slave by the cruel master of the master. The master did not want to sell him but he needed money for his business so he sold him to the cruel master of the master’s servant.

The young man turned out to be this soldier whom Jack once knew in real life. The soldier talked with Jack about how much he missed his family and how grateful he was that they are all alive today. He also said that he would give this silver donkey to Jack if it could somehow bring back his family members.

The story ends with saying that no one could bring back Jack’s family but what this silver donkey did for others could never be forgotten.

Source: The Silver Donkey

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