_BOOK_TITLE_ : Andrew_Lang___The_Grey_Fairy_Book.txt.out
DONKEY SKIN There was once upon a time a king who was so much beloved by his subjects that he thought himself the happiest monarch in the whole world , and he had everything his heart could desire .
His palace was filled with the rarest of curiosities , and his garden with the sweetest flowers , while the marble stalls of his stables stood a row of milk-white Arabs , with big brown eyes .
Strangers who had heard of the marvels which the king had collected , and made long journeys to see them , were , however , surprised to find the most splendid stall of all occupied by a donkey , with particularly large and drooping ears .
It was a very fine donkey ; but still , as far as they could tell , nothing so very remarkable as to account for the care with which it was lodged ; and they went away wondering , for they could not know that every night , when it was asleep , bushels of gold pieces tumbled out of its ears , which were picked up each morning by the attendants .
After many years of prosperity a sudden blow fell upon the king in the death of his wife , whom he loved dearly .
But before she died , the queen , who had always thought first of his happiness , gathered all her strength , and said to him : ` Promise me one thing : you must marry again , I know , for the good of your people , as well as of yourself .
But do not set about it in a hurry .