An Ass’s Shadow
A foolish fellow went to the parish priest, and told him, with a very long face, that he had seen a ghost. “When and where?” said the pastor. “Last night,” replied the timid man, “I was passing by the church, and up against the wall of it, did I behold the spectre.” “In what shape did it appear?” replied the priest. “It appeared in the shape of a great ass.” “Go home and say not a word about it,” rejoined the pastor; “you are a very timid man, and have been frightened by your own shadow.”