From: alanb@sonic.net   
      
        One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal   
           cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what   
           to do.   
           *   
           *   
           Finally, he decided the donkey was old and the well needed to be   
           covered anyway. It just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.   
      
           He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all   
           grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At   
           first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried   
           horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down.   
      
           A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the   
           well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt   
           that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He   
           would shake it off and take a step up.   
      
           As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel  dirt on top of   
           the animal, he would shake it   
           off and take a step up.   
      
           Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over   
           the edge of the well and happily trotted off!   
      
           Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The   
           trick to getting out of the well   
           is to shake it off and take a step up.. Each of our troubles is   
           a steppingstone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not   
           stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up. *   
      
           Remember the five simple rules to be happy:*   
      
           Free your heart from hatred - Forgive.   
      
           Free your mind from worries - Most never happen.   
      
           Live simply and appreciate what you have.   
      
           Give more.   
      
           Expect less *   
      
           NOW .......*   
      
           Enough of that crap*. *The donkey later came back, and bit the   
           farmer who had  tried to bury him. The gash from the bite got   
           infected and the farmer eventually died in agony from septic shock.   
                   *   
      
           MORAL FROM TODAY'S LESSON:*   
      
           When you do something wrong, and try to cover your ass, it   
           always comes back to bite you.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)