Fables

The Eagle, the Crow, and the Shepherd

An eagle was flying through the skies 
when suddenly it spied a lamb. Without 
hesitation, it directed its flight towards
the prey and caught it with its claws.


A crow saw what had happened and decided to 
copy the eagle by flying at another lamb.
But since he was not strong enough to carry the 
lamb, it claws got tangled in the lambs wool
and it could not fly away with his prey.


 The shepherd found the crow tangled in the lambs wool. He caught it and took it to show his children. They asked him:

"What kind of bird is it?"

The shepherd answered: "For me it is just a crow who thinks it is an eagle."

                                                                                                           MORAL: 

We should always be ourselves,

 and not try to be something we are not.

Source: My First Fables 1
Dolphin Books 
Published by:  STRAIGHT LINES INTERNATIONAL, INC. 

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The Hunter and the Pheasant

One morning, a hunter
caught a pheasant. 
The pheasant begged the
hunter to spare him his life. 
"If you set me free, I promise
that you will never regret this,
and you will always have a better catches,"

"How can you do that?" asked the hunter. 

"I will bring many of my friends and they will go straight into your trap. You just have to let me go so that I can get my friends."

"If you think that you can convince me to release you by deceiving me and betraying your friends, then you are wrong. Your actions show that you are a traitor, and for this reason, you alone deserve to die, more than all the animals together," said the hunter. 

Moral: 

Always be loyal to your friends.  

Source: My First Fables 1
Dolphin Books 
Published by:  STRAIGHT LINES INTERNATIONAL, INC. 

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The Fox and the Grapes

One day, a fox passed by a grapevine where

delicious clusters of grapes were growing.

The fox was excited to see them as she was so hungry.

She tried to pick the grapes with her snout but could not reach them as they were very high for her.

After a few more tries, she gave up and said aloud, "Bah, I no longer want them. They are probably too sour anyway. 

Moral:

If you want to Attain your goals, 

do not make excuses for your lack of effort.

Source: My First Fables 1

Dolphin Books 

Published by:  STRAIGHT LINES INTERNATIONAL, INC. 

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The Eagle and the Cocks

In the chicken house, the cocks were constantly

arguing and fighting with each other

in order to get the attention of the hens. 

One morning, one of the cocks challenged 

another cock managed to defeat the 

other cock and made it leave the hen house.

The defeated cock had no choice but to leave the  house and hide itself in some nearby bushes. Meanwhile, the winning cock felt very proud and sure of himself. He climbed up to the highest part of the hen house and proudly sang a song of triumph. 

Not only did he call the attention of all the chicken living in the house, but also of an eagle flying around. The eagle suddenly dived down from the sky and grabbed the boastful cock and flew away with it. 

A couple of days passed, the boastful cock returned to the chicken house and got all the attention of hens. He promised himself to be humble and never to act proudly again.

                                                                                                        Moral:

One who boast on his own success, 

will soon lose it to some else. 

Source: My First Fables 1

Dolphin Books 

Published by:  STRAIGHT LINES INTERNATIONAL, INC. 

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The Fox and the Crow

A crow was sitting on a branch of a tree, holding a piece 
of cheese on its beak. Soon a fox came by, and attracted
to the smell of the cheese, he began to think.


"Ummm, I would really like to eat that delicious piece of eating 
cheese which the crow in eating!" thought the fox.
Suddenly he had an idea. 


"What do I see?" he said to the crow in a surprised manner. "I was told that you have beautiful feathers. They were right. Please don't get upset if I stare at you, as you are so, so beautiful!" said the fox.

The crow felt good being admired by the fox. He proudly puffed up his breast and looked important on the branch.

The fox continued, "I am sure that you are so perfect that you have an enchanting voice. Is that not true?"


The crow was pleased at what he heard, and wanted to show all the fox had said to him was true.  He started to sing:

"Crruaacccck..!" he shrilled. But as he opened his beak to sing, the cheese fell out!


The fox did not wait a moment, caught the cheese, happy getting what he wanted. 


The crows was dumbfounded, being foolish about being deceived by the fox.

                                                                                                      Moral:

 Be careful of those who praise you, 

as they probably want something from you.

Source: My First Fables 1

Dolphin Books 

Published by:  STRAIGHT LINES INTERNATIONAL, INC. 

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The Frog and the Dry Swamp

Two frogs lived in a swamp. One summer, the swamp became so dry 

that they have to leave it to look for a new one. Along the way, they 

discovered a well full of water. 

"Let's go down into the well and make it our home," said one frog 

to the other. 

The other frog answered, "But if the water ever dries out in this well 

too, how will we ever climb out and leave?" 

                                                                       Moral: 

Whenever we do something we must think about the consequences. 

It is much better to be safe than sorry. 

Source: My First Fables 1
Dolphin Books 
Published by:  STRAIGHT LINES INTERNATIONAL, INC. 

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The Hen with the Golden Eggs

Very early one morning, a farmer went to his hen house to collect the 

eggs to sell. He was greatly surprised to see that one of his hens had

laid a beautiful golden eggs. He excitedly told his wife and they 

danced for joy for at last they will never be poor again.

The next day, the farmer found another golden egg. And this

continued day after day.

Everything changed for the farmer and his wife.

They became very wealthy. 

One evening, the wife could not sleep thinking about hen. She

woke up her husband and said to him, "It seems to me that we are

wasting too much time waiting each day for the hen to lay 

a new golden egg. Why don't  we kill the hen now and get 

all the gold at one time?"

So they went to hen house and killed the hen. They were surprised 

and disappointed to find not a single gold inside the hen.

                                                                                                                            Moral:

If we are too ambitious, 

we can lose what is most dear to us. 

Source: My First Fables 1

Dolphin Books 

Published by:  STRAIGHT LINES INTERNATIONAL, INC. 

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The Fox and the Woodcutter


A fox was running wildly as hunters
were chasing here. When the fox
spotted a small cabin in the middle 
of the forest, she did not hesitate to 
beg the woodcutter to give her shelter
from the hunters. Fortunately, the
woodcutter agreed to hid the fox,
and allowed it to enter the cabin. 


a few minutes later, the hunters arrived 
and ask the woodcutter if he had 
seen a fox. The man answered them 
that he had not seen this fox, but his 

hands cautiously pointed towards the
where he had hidden the animal. 
The hunters did not understand the 
signals of the woodcutter and they left. 


The fox noticed what had happened
and ran out of her hiding place as fast
as possible, without saying a word.
The woodcutter was surprised  about 
the attitude of the fox who left without 
thanking for having saved her from
the hunters.


"Well, I would have given you my thanks, 
if your hands and mouth had said 
the same thing," said the fox.  

                                                                                                                    Moral:

Do not cancel your words

by your actions.

Source: My First Fables 1

Dolphin Books 

Published by:  STRAIGHT LINES INTERNATIONAL, INC. 

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How the Wren Became King 


      A long while ago when there were not so many people on the earth as there are now, and the birds and animals had things about their way, a Cuckoo gave a tea party.
      She invited all the birds there were, from a great Eagle, through the Larks, Swallow, Finches, and Crows, down to the little brown bird that sings alone in the hedges and had no name then. She seated them all around her table, although it was a task to find a places for them all; and she gave each bird whatever it liked best of all to eat.
      Every one wondered why the Cuckoo took such trouble as this, and certain people say this day, "as silly as a Cuckoo, "because of it; but when all the birds had eaten their fill, the Cuckoo hopped upon the table and addressed the assembly company.
      "It seem to me," said the Cuckoo, "that things have been going very badly with us for some time, and that all would be remedied if we had a king to settle our affairs and rule over us. I  would suggest that we choose a king today."
      Oh, how the birds chirped, and chattered, and peeped at that. The Cuckoo had imagined that she would Cuckoo had imagined that she would have the say as to which bird should be king, and she had in mind one of her own sons, but, no indeed! Each bird at the tea party was sure that he had royal blood in his veins, and they all began to argue and quarrel about it. 
      about that time a Rooster and a Hen passed by, taking their daily airing. They had not been invited to the tea party and so they were greatly excited at hearing the commotion; grandfathers, and fathers, and cousins, and sons among the birds were all talking and arguing at once. 
      "Wat? Wat?"clucked the Hen.
      "I will go and see, my dear," said the Rooster, and so he rushed into the midst of the tea party to see what the entire hubbub was about. 
      When he found out, he had a plan to offer. He was often called upon to settle disputes among Hens, so he was always quite willing to help in any such matters.
      "Have a test! Have a test!" said the Rooster. "You will never decide anything by arguing in this way; but it shall be decided that the bird who is able to fly the highest shall be your king." 
      This seemed a fair way of settling the matter. All the birds agreed to it except the Plover, who went off into the woods and has lived there, wild, ever since.
      Then the birds lighted in a row, and spread their wings, and flew with all their strength, and as high as they could, up, up into the air. One by one, though, they dropped back for they did not all have the same strength of wing. The Lark flew higher, indeed, than most of them, but finally he, too was outstripped by the Eagle, who soared and soared until he was only a speck in the sky.
      "The Eagle is our king! The Eagle is the king of birds!" sang all the others; but, no! Way, way above the Eagle flew another bird, so tiny that he looked like nothing but a mote, floating in the sunlight. It was the little brown bird that sings alone in the hedges, and had no name then.
      He had hidden himself in the Eagle's feathers and had been carried up with him until he wanted to fly on by himself.
      "I am the king of the birds!" he twittered as he flew down among the others again.
      But the other birds did not wish this. They did not like to think of so tiny and humble a bird being exalted to be their king. They were about to fall upon the little brown bird and drive him out of their midst when the Rooster spoke to them again. Since the plan had been his, he wanted to make a success of it, so he said,
      "The mistake was mine, all mine. This is how we will arrange it. The bird that is able to fall deepest into the earth shall be your king."
      The Rooster had a plan of his own in mind when he said this. As all the birds began to look about for places to jump into deeper places, and the Duck tried to see how long he could hold this head under water, The Rooster called to the Hen. He instructed the Hen to scratch, and when she had made a deep hole, he hid himself in it.
      "I am king of the birds! I am your king!" the Rooster crowed, poking his head up out of the hole.  But the little brown bird that sings in the hedges, and had no name then, had again got best of them all. What had he done but creep into a mouse hole, and there he was, deeper down in the earth than any of them.
      "I am your king!" he twittered up to them. The all the birds were very much put out, for they saw that the little brown bird was the truly king. They decided, though, that they would not recognize him, and they appointed the Owl to sit, night and day, at the opening of the mouse hole and not allow the little brown bird to come out.
      Then all the birds went home from the Cuckoo's tea party, and to bed, for they were quite worn out with all the excitement.
      All went well that night with the Owl. He watched the mouse hole and did not allow the little brown bird to so much as put his bill out.
      When it came to be day, though, the Owl was tired, and he closed, first one eye, and then the other eye. There he was fell asleep, and out hopped the little brown that had a name now, because he was the little Hedge King.
      It was great disappointment to the other birds to be obliged to recognize so humble a little brown bird as their king, and they blamed the Owl for it. That is why he still sleeps in the daytime now, and looks about only at night. And that is why, also, hee is such an enemy of the mice, continually hunting them in their holes.
      But little brown bird that sings alone in the hedges really made him king of the birds. He has two names now, Hedge King, and Wren.

Source: A collection of 
Short Stories for Children
Retold by: Priscilla M. Agaton

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Hens in the House

By Susan Mitsch

      Farmer Brown and Mrs. Brown went out to the fields one day to work. Usually they locked their doors. A brisk breeze flapped the doors a bit- open, shut, open, shut. 

      The hens in the hen house saw their chance. "Come on, gang!" called Annabelle, the led hen. One by one, they flapped over the fence and scooted to the house. In they ran as back door flapped- open, shut, open, shut.

      "Step lively," cried Annabelle. 

"Shake a leg,"

      Soon every hen was in the house, running this way, running that. 

Annabelle spied a light switch. She flapped up to it.

      "Look at this!" she called. Peck, peck,. Peck, peck, tapped Annabelle. The light turned on and off.

      Clarise spied the computer. Peck,peck. Peck, peck, went Clarice.

      Suddenly, all the Brown's farm records appeared on the screen. The printer began printing. Bawk-ack! squawked the startled hen. she flapped down and ran off.

      Helen spotted the piano. She began pecking. Plink. Plunk, plink, plank, plunk. Helen was pleased. She went on plucking. 

      Some of the other hens joined her. Plinkey, plinkey, went the piano. A chicken serenade floated into the morning breeze.

      Eunice found the answering machine. She listened to some important messages. 

      "Elaine, I know this is your busy time," said a caller.

      "Just you or Burt give me a call if you want to sell that grain. Talk to you soon."

      Bawk, clucked Eunice in reply. Buck, buck, buck, buck. 

      Clarable found the phone. Peck, peck, peck. Peck, peck. Peck.Peck, peck.

      Yance's House of Pizza," said a voice on the other end.

      "Can I interest you in our pepperoni special today?" Buck, buck, clucked Clarabelle.

      "We'll be there in thirty minutes," said the voice.  

      The  hens had a wonderful time. They perched on the sofa.They played the radio. They raided the refrigerator. 

      Adelle found the remote control for the TV. She pecked at it. Peck, peck, peck. The TV came on. The hens watched. 

      "All our Sadness."

      "Wallace, I love you," said the woman on TV. 

      "I love you, too, Barbara," the TV man answered. 

      "That's why I must go," said Barbara.

      "Please, don't leave me!" cried Wallace. 

      "Boo, hoo, hoo," squawked the chickens.

      Just then Mr. Brown came walking back through the fields. Annabelle spotted him. 

      "Yikes! It's the boss!" she cackled to the others. 

      "Quick! Let's get going!"

      All the hens raced out the back door and down to the hen house. Each one flapped over the fence and into the chicken yard. There they scratched for corn and tried to look innocent. 

      Farmer Brown noticed his door flapping in the breeze. 

"Oh no! he moaned covering his eyes with his hand. He raced to the house. 

      What sight met his eyes! He turned off the printer. He turned off the television. He switched off the lights and closed the refrigerator,

      "Chickens, chickens, chickens," he muttered. 

      Just then, the delivery boy arrived. 

      "That will be nine dollars," he said, handing Farmer Brown a box of pizza. 

      "The chickens must have ordered this," said Farmer Brown. 

      "Here, I'll pay."

      And Farmer Brown brought a pizza lunch ti his wife in the fields, after making sure, this time to lock every door up tight. 

Source: A collection of 
Short Stories for Children
Retold by: Priscilla M. Agaton

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The Bullfrog and His Shadow

Bruce Holland Rogers

      "I don't know,"  said the bullfrog, which had been silent all through  the deliberations. 

      "I am big, but raccoon are bigger. I am one but they are many."

       In the middle of the day, the frogs held a council. 

      "It's unbearable," said one. 

      "The herons hunt us by day, and the raccoon prey on us at night."

      "Yes," said another.

      "Either one is bad enough, but both herons and raccoon together mean that we never have a moment's of peace." 

      "We should demand that the herons leave the pond. Banish them!"

      "Yes!" all the frogs agreed. 

      "Banish the herons! Banish the herons!"

      All this noise drew the attention of a heron who was fishing nearby. 

      "What was that?" she said, approaching. 

      "Banish who?"

      The frogs looked at her beak, which was like a sword for stabbing frogs. 

      "The Raccoon! chorused the 

      "Banish the raccoon!"

      "That's what I thought you said," said the heron. She went back to finishing. 

      "The raccoon!" the frog sang. 

      "Banish the Raccoon!" 

      With the policy decided, there arose the matter of who would inform the raccoon of their exile. 

      One frog after another was nominated for the post of sheriff, and one after another declined it. Then the bullfrog was nominated. 

      "Of course! He's the biggest! He's the very one for the job!" 

      "I don't know," said the bullfrog, who had been silent all through the deliberations. 

      "I am big, but raccoon are bigger. I am one but they are many." \

      "Well, then," volunteered another frog. "We'll come along with you!" 

      "Yes, we'll come along!" agreed the frogs. "We'll come along!"

      "And you'll stay with me, no matter what?" said the bullfrog.

      "We'll stick to you like your shadow," said one frog. 

      The other frogs agreed.

      "Like your shadow."

       The bullfrog was still reluctant. The others had to pledge their faithfulness all afternoon. Finally, they had repeated so many times that they would stick to him like his shadow that the bullfrog agreed to lead the delegation. 

      The sun set. The herons flew to their roost above the pond. In the twilight, the bullfrog said, "The raccoon will be coming soon. But you're all going to stand by me like my very shadow, right?"

      "Like your shadow! Like your shadow!" chorused the frogs. 

      The sky turned purple. 

      "Even if five or six raccoon appear together!

      "Like your shadow! Like your shadow!"

      Star shone in a moonless sky. It was very dark. There was just enough starlight to see the raccoon when at last they emerged from the undergrowth. There were five of them, a mother and her grown kits. 

      The bullfrog hopped onto the shore. 

      "Villains!" he cried. 

      "Be gone! raccoon are outlawed at this pond! Away with you! You are banished!"     
      "Indeed?" said the mother raccoon. 
Her kits sniffed the bullfrog, who trembled but held his ground. 
      "On whose authority are we banished?" 
      "On all of ours! the bullfrog said. He expected a chorus to back him up. There was only silence. He turned and saw, just before he was eaten, that he was the only frog ashore. 

The help of most allies falls 

short of the mark, 

For even your shadow slips

off in the dark.

Source: A collection of 

Short Stories for Children

Retold by: Priscilla M. Agaton