The Fox and the Crow

Summary

This story is about a clever Fox who uses flattery to trick a Crow into dropping her piece of cheese. The Fox is hungry and keen on obtaining the cheese in the Crow's beak, so he showers the Crow with compliments about her appearance and presumed singing abilities. Feeling proud and distracted by the Fox's praise, the Crow opens her beak to caw, causing the cheese to fall to the ground, where the Fox happily snatches it up. The story concludes with the Fox advising the Crow not to trust those who use flattery to get what they want, highlighting a moral lesson about the dangers of vanity and the importance of discernment when dealing with compliments.

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One sunny afternoon, a hungry Fox was walking through the park. His tummy growled. “I need something to eat,” he said to himself.

Just then, he spotted a Crow perched on a tree branch. She had a big piece of cheese in her beak.

“That cheese looks delicious,” thought the Fox. “But how can I get it?”

He looked up and called out, “Hello, beautiful Crow!”

The Crow glanced down but kept her beak tightly closed on the cheese.

“What lovely feathers you have!” exclaimed the Fox. “They’re so shiny and black. You must be the most beautiful bird in the whole park!”

The Crow felt proud but stayed silent.

The Fox smiled and said, “I bet your voice is as lovely as your feathers. Would you sing a song for me?”

Feeling flattered, the Crow forgot about the cheese. She opened her beak wide and cawed loudly, “Caw! Caw!”

Just then, the cheese fell from her beak and landed right in front of the Fox.

“Thank you very much!” said the Fox, picking up the cheese.

The Crow realized she had been tricked. “Oh no! My cheese!” she cried.

The Fox looked up and said, “Next time, don’t trust someone who flatters you just to get what they want.” And with that, he trotted away, happily eating the cheese.