Once there was a canawler who was getting up in years. Business wasn't so good on the canal any more and his son didn't want to follow in his footsteps. He was more interested in book learning, so he sold his barge and decided to take his mule to the city where it would fetch a better price and he could find it a good home.

       One morning the canawler and his son put a harness around the mule's neck, climbed on its back and set off down the dusty dirty road to the city. The sky was blue and the birds were singing but the young man didn't notice. He had other things on his mind.

        They road for a while and finally the young man said "Pa, I been thinkin'. Maybe we shouldn't both of us ride this here mule. It ain't get any younger and we might wear it out."

        "You might be right." said the canawler and he got down from the mule and let the way.

        They walked and they walked a bit further when they passed by a church.

        "Pa," said the young man. "I been thinkin'. Don't the good book say a son should honor his father? Don't seem too honorable for you to walk. Let's switch places."

        "Now that you mention it," said his father. "My feet are gettin' sore."

        So they switched places and now the young man led the way.

        They went the rest of the day and were coming to the outskirts of the city when the young man suddenly said "Pa, I been thinkin'. If we show up, either one of us riding this mule, people might think we wore it out. Won't fetch such a good price."

        "You might be right." said his father. So now both of them led the mule over a toll bridge that crossed the canal.

        From behind them they heard a canawler on a barge yell "You there. You. Don't you know nothin'? Don't you know that ain't no way to treat your mule lettin' him walk and all?"   Then the bargeman laughed.

        "Pa," said the canawler's son. "I been thinkin'. Maybe we should just carry this mule."

        So they tied its feet to a pole and carried the mule between them the rest of the way into the city. Neither city nor countryside has seen such a sight as that. Two men carrying a mule!

        People came running out of their houses. Running out of their businesses. Children left their books and they teachers to stand in the street and stare.

       "Look at that! Look at that!" they shouted. "Did you ever see anything like that. Two men carrying a mule?"

       There was so much commotion that mule kicked his feet and kicked loose the ropes. He ran to the canal and jumped into the muddy waters. There was a moment of silence. No one could believe what had happened.

       "Pa." said the young man. "I been thinkin'"

        The old canawler just shook his head. "Son," he said. "I wish you'd just stop your thinkin"