The stolen ass

An Arabian farmer realized that his ass, which he had put out to pasture in a meadow, had been stolen. He immediately grabbed a stick and ran into the town.

'You miserable thieves!' he yelled, waving his club about in a menacing way. 'Give me back my ass, or I shall do what my father did!'

It was so frightening to see and hear him that even the thief was terrified, who came and handed back the stolen animal. While he was doing so, he asked the farmer: 'What did your father do?'

'He bought another ass!' was the reply.