The bronze rat

The bronze rat

A bloke from the bush walked into a Sydney antique shop.

After looking around for a while, he noticed a very life-like bronze statue of a rat. It had no price tag, but it was so striking that he decided to buy it anyway.

He took it to the owner and said: 'How much is this bronze rat?' The owner replied: 'It's $12 for the rat, and $100 for the story'

The fellow gave the owner his $12 and said: 'I'll just take the rat, you can keep the story!'

As he walked off down the street, he noticed that a few real rats had crawled out of the drains and begun following him.

This was a little disconcerting, so he started to walk a little faster, but within a couple of blocks the swarm of rats had grown to hundreds, and they were all squealing and screeching in a very menacing way.

He increased his speed and ran on towards Sydney Harbour and as he ran, he looked behind him and saw the rats now numbered in their MILLIONS, and they were running faster and faster.

By now very concerned, he ran down to the pier and threw the bronze rat as far out into the water as he could. Amazingly, the millions of real rats jumped into the water after it and were all drowned.

The man walked back to relate all this to the shop owner, who said, 'Ah, you've come back for the story then?'

'Shit no!' said the bloke, 'I came back to see if you've got a bronze Muslim, a couple of Asians, a Kiwi and an Indian spin bowler.

Is it your copyright? Please see here.

This is Interesting. Have you ever though about that?

It takes glass one million years to decompose, which means it never wears out and can be recycled an infinite amount of times!

Gold is the only metal that doesn't rust, even if it's buried in the ground for thousands of years .

Your tongue is the only muscle in your body that is attached at only one end .

If you stop getting thirsty, you need to drink more water. When a human body is dehydrated, its thirst mechanism shuts off.

Zero is the only number that cannot be represented by Roman numerals.

Kites were used in the American Civil War to deliver letters and newspapers.

The song, Auld Lang Syne, is sung at the stroke of midnightin almost every English-speaking country in the world to bring in the new year.

Drinking water after eating reduces the acid in your mouth by 61 percent.

Peanut oil is used for cooking in submarines because it doesn't smoke unless it's heated above 450F.

The roar that we hear when we place a seashell next to our ear is not the ocean, but rather the sound of blood surging through the veins in the ear.

Nine out of every 10 living things live in the ocean.

The banana cannot reproduce itself. It can be propagated only by the hand of man.

Airports at higher altitudes require a longer airstrip due to lower air density.

The University of Alaska spans four time zones.

The tooth is the only part of the human body that cannot heal itself.

In ancient Greece , tossing an apple to a girl was a traditional proposal of marriage. Catching it meant she accepted.

Warner Communications paid $28 million for the copyright to the song Happy Birthday.

Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair.

A comet's tail always points away from the sun.

The Swine Flu vaccine in 1976 caused more death and illness than the disease it was intended to prevent.

Caffeine increases the power of aspirin and other painkillers, that is why it is found in some medicines.

The military salute is a motion that evolved from medieval times, when knights in armor raised their visors to reveal their identity.

If you get into the bottom of a well or a tall chimney and look up, you can see stars, even in the middle of the day.

When a person dies, hearing is the last sense to go. The first sense lost is sight.

In ancient times strangers shook hands to show that they were unarmed.

Strawberries are the only fruits whose seeds grow on the outside.

Avocados have the highest calories of any fruit at 167 calories per hundred grams.

The moon moves about two inches away from the Earth each year.

The Earth gets 100 tons heavier every day due to falling space dust.

Due to earth's gravity it is impossible for mountains to be higher than 15,000 meters.

Mickey Mouse is known as "Topolino" in Italy .

Soldiers do not march in step when going across bridges because they could set up a vibration which could be sufficient to knock the bridge down.

Everything weighs one percent less at the equator.

For every extra kilogram carried on a space flight, 530 kg of excess fuel are needed at lift-off.

The letter J does not appear anywhere on the periodic table of the elements.

If you like the above, pass it on to others.....

Gostou do artigo? Foi útil? Deixe seu joinha, compartilhe ou comente.

Image/Imagem: Google Images

Translation/Tradução: Heinz Claudius (when applicable)

Is it your copyright? Please see here.

The Clever Frog

The Deep inside a forest, there was a pond. Many fishes, crabs and frogs lived in the pond. Theirs was a happy and peaceful life. 

Among them lived two beautiful fishes named Sahasrabuddhi and Shatabuddhi. They were bigger than the other fishes in the pond. They were very proud of their good looks and intelligence. 

In the same pond lived a frog with his wife. His name was Ekkabuddhi. The fishes and frogs were good friends. They all led an undisturbed life. 

But one day two fishermen, returning from the river in the forest after fishing. came across the pond. It was late in the evening and as usual all the fishes and frogs were at play. Sahasrabuddhi, Shatabuddhi, Ekkabuddhi and many others joined the game. They leaped high into the air and chased each other. 

Seeing the beautiful scene the fishermen were amazed and stopped in their tracks. 

“How beautiful they look?" said one fisherman. 

“Yes. And so many of them too," replied the other. 

“The pond does not look very deep," said the first fisherman. “Let us catch some of them." 

“It is already very late and we have a heavy load to carry a long way. Let’s come back tomorrow," suggested the other fisherman. 

Ekkabuddhi turned to the others in the pond and said, “Did you not hear what the fishermen said? We must leave this pond for a safer place." 

“Just because two fishermen said they would come back to catch us tomorrow, you want us to leave our home and flee. For all we know, they might not come back," said Sahasrabuddhi. 

“Even if they come back to catch us I know a thousand tricks to get away." 

“And even if your thousand ways fail, I know another hundred ways to escape," said Shatabuddhi. “ We will not let two fishermen scare us away from our me." All the others in the pond agreed with them. 

“Well! I know only one trick," said Ekkabuddhi. “To leave the place before danger strikes." Ekkabuddhi and his wife left the pond in search of a safer place. All the fishes, crabs and frogs laughed at them as they left. 

The next day the fishermen returned to the pond and cast their net. “Ouch! This net is too thick for me to bite through," cried Sahasrabuddhi. 

“For me too," cried Shatabuddhi. “Only if I could get out, I could do something. 

“We should have listened to Ekkabuddhi," cried a fish. “Now we are all doomed." 

The fishermen caught them all and put all the fishes, frogs and crabs into a big basket and took them away. 

Ekkabuddhi, hiding behind a boulder with his wife turned to her and said, “If I had not acted in time, we would also be in that basket with the others." 

Gostou do artigo? Foi útil? Deixe seu joinha, compartilhe ou comente.

Image/Imagem: Google Images

Translation/Tradução: Heinz Claudius (when applicable)

Is it your copyright? Please see here.

The Crow and The Eagle

It was a bright spring day. The sun was high in the blue sky. A herd of sheep was grazing contentedly on the hillside. The little lambs with their soft white coats and curly tails were playing among themselves. The Shepherd, seeing that his flock was safe and happy, had fallen asleep under the spreading branches of a large old tree. 

Suddenly an Eagle swooped down from the sky. It pounced on a little lamb and carried it off so swiftly that none of the other lambs even had the time to bleat. The sleeping Shepherd heard nothing. 

A Crow was sitting on the tree under which the Shepherd lay asleep. He had seen how the Eagle had caught the lamb and carried it off to his nest. 

‘What a wonderful way to get dinner!’ he thought. 'Why do crows look for old smelly food?’ 

The Crow decided to do exactly as the Eagle had done. It had looked easy enough. All he had to do was to decide which sheep he wanted, swoop down upon it, hold it as firmly as he could in his claws and fly off with it… Easy! 

If the Eagle could do it, then so could he! 

The Crow looked down at the flock of sheep to decide which sheep he wanted. 

Just below the tree, by the Shepherd, a big, old Ram was grazing. He had curling horns and a thick heavy fleece. 

'Aha! He should be a good meal for me!' thought the Crow greedily. He was very hungry and the thought of a large juicy ram for lunch made his mouth water. 

The Crow swooped silently and swiftly down onto the Ram, just as he had seen the Eagle do and grasped it firmly by its fleece. 

‘And now to fly off with it to my nest,' said the Crow to himself. He flapped his wings with all his strength, but could not lift the Ram. 

The Ram was large. He was much too heavy for the Crow to carry. The Crow tried again and again, but without success. 

The Ram felt the Crow on its back and was most annoyed. Just what do you think you are doing, you pesky bird?' he snapped, glaring at him over his shoulder. 

The Crow flapped harder still, trying to carry the Ram away. 

‘Now stop that!' cried the Ram. ‘Go away! Shoo! Leave me in peace!’ He jumped and bucked and tried to shake the Crow off his back. 

‘Oh oh!' thought the Crow, alarmed at the Ram’s fierce antics. ‘Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all! Perhaps I should look for my dinner somewhere else! I had better let the Ram be!' 

The Crow tried to fly away, but he found he could not move. His claws were caught in the Ram’s thick fleece! The Crow pulled his feet this way and that. He flapped his wings as hard as he could. But no matter what he did, he only seemed to get stuck more firmly. 

Oh, how was he ever going to get free? The Crow squawked loudly in fear and despair. The Ram started running around the tree, bellowing with rage. The Shepherd woke up with a start. Who was making that horrible noise? Were his sheep in danger? He sat up. 

What a sight met his eyes! The Ram was running round and round the tree. On his back was the Crow, squawking and trying to rise into the air. 

The Shepherd began to laugh. At last, wiping his eyes, the Shepherd stood up. He stopped the Ram as he ran by and calmed him with gentle words. 

When the Ram was still, the Shepherd took a pair of shears from his sack. Holding the Crow with one hand, he deftly snipped the fleece until the Crow was free. 

‘What did you think you were doing, my fine friend'' asked the Shepherd, looking at the Crow. ‘Playing at being an Eagle, were you?' 

The Shepherd burst out laughing again. 

The Crow was too embarrassed even to croak. He wished only that the Shepherd would let him go so he could fly away to his nest and hide his foolish head. 

Finally, when the Shepherd let the Crow go, the Crow flapped his wings and flew off as fast as he could. 

‘And the next time you want to be an Eagle, make sure you pick an animal your size!' called the Shepherd after him. 

The Crow, feeling silly and foolish, promised himself that from now on he would only do as other crows did! 

Gostou do artigo? Foi útil? Deixe seu joinha, compartilhe ou comente.

Image/Imagem: Google Images

Translation/Tradução: Heinz Claudius (when applicable)

Is it your copyright? Please see here.

The Donkey and The Load of Salt

Once, there lived a peddler. The peddler sold all sorts of goods….sturdy shoes for the farmers and pretty trinkets for their sweethearts, warm, woolly shawls to keep the women warm and sweet, sticky toffees for the children to munch on their way back from school. 

Some days he sold fruits and on other days, kettles. To carry all his wares, the peddler had a donkey. Every morning, the peddler loaded the donkey with his wares. The two would set out and walk from farmhouse to farmhouse, from village to village and from market to market. 

The peddler always walked ahead, whistling merrily as he went. The poor donkey followed, trying as hard as he could to keep up with his master and groaning under the weight of his load. 

Every evening, their wares sold, the peddler and his donkey would wend their way home. The peddler, pleased with the day's takings, would walk ahead, jingling the pennies in his pocket. The poor old donkey would follow, foot sore and weary from carrying the heavy sacks all day long. 

“Ah! My poor feet! Oooh! My aching back!" the donkey moaned every night as he collapsed wearily onto the hay in his stable. 

The old grey cat who shared the stable with the donkey, would shake her head and sigh. 'Poor old donkey,' she would say to herself, and slink off into the night. 

One morning, the peddler loaded the poor donkey with a dozen sacks. The sacks were full of salt and much heavier than the donkey’s usual load. The donkey groaned under the weight, but bore it patiently, as he had always done. 

“I shall make a tidy profit today on this salt.' said the peddler to the donkey, as they set off. 'There is not a woman who does not need to buy salt for her cooking and they will pay me well for this. I shall be a rich man tonight!' 

And the peddler danced a little jig in the middle of the road. The donkey could only think of the heavy load on his back and the long day ahead. 

The donkey plodded along behind the peddler. The sun was now high in the sky. The donkey was hot and tired and longing for a drink of water. Up ahead, he knew, there flowed a stream of cool, sweet water. The donkey hurried towards the stream as fast as his tired legs and the heavy load on his back would allow and leaned over for a drink. The edge of the stream was slippery with mud and slush. The donkey, with the heavy sacks of salt on his back, slipped and fell into the water. 

“Oooh, help! Help!' brayed the donkey in terror, his legs flailing madly in the water. ‘I will surely drown with this terrible load on my back!' 

But suddenly, the donkey felt himself floating, the load on his back gone as if by magic. He clambered out on to the bank and shook himself. Yes! The weight on his back had vanished! 

Of course the sacks were lighter, for the salt had dissolved in the water. But the donkey did not know that. 'At last! A way to rid myself of my burdens,' he thought and brayed with joy at his great discovery. 

That night he told the grey cat all about how he had slipped and fallen into the stream and how, when he had climbed out, his load had become so much lighter. 

“No more heavy loads for me,' declared the donkey, feeling very pleased. 

‘Every time it gets too much for me, all I have to do is to pretend to fall into a stream and my load will lessen by magic!' 

The grey cat shook her head and sighed. 'Poor old donkey.' she said and slunk off into the night. 

Next morning the peddler loaded the monkey again, this time with bales of cloth that he wanted to sell at the next village. Be careful today, old donkey,’ he said as they set off. ‘I did not earn penny yesterday. I must earn double today or we go to bed hungry tonight.' 

The donkey plodded along behind the peddler and groaned under the weight of the cloth. His back ached more than ever and his feet were killing him. He resolved to find a stream as quickly as he could. As luck would have it, the peddler took the same path he had taken the previous day and very soon they came to the same stream. The donkey hurried ahead as though very thirsty and pretending to slip, fell in. He kicked his legs about, making sure the bundle on his back was properly soaked. 

In a moment my burden will vanish." he told himself and kicked about some more. 

But what was happening? Something was wrong! His load, in stead of becoming lighter, had become much heavier and was slowly pulling him deeper into the stream. Of course his burden was heavier, for the water had soaked into the bales of cloth. The poor donkey thrashed about in the water and brayed in terror. 

“Help! Help!' he cried. 

Meanwhile, the peddler had rushed to the stream and bracing himself on the bank, helped the frightened donkey out of the water. 

That night, the donkey was a sad and subdued creature. He had had to carry the much heavier, soaked and dripping bales of cloth all the way home again. His back was truly aching and what was worse, he had caught a cold. He sneezed miserably into the straw. The old grey cat looked at him and sighed. 'Poor old donkey,' he said and slunk off into the night. 

Gostou do artigo? Foi útil? Deixe seu joinha, compartilhe ou comente.

Image/Imagem: Google Images

Translation/Tradução: Heinz Claudius (when applicable)

Is it your copyright? Please see here.

The Lion and The Hare

Once in a forest there lived a lion who was very proud of his strength. He would kill any animal which came in his way just for fun. All the animals in the forest were worried about their survival. 

“If the lion keeps this up, none of us will be left in the forest," said the bear. 

“He kills much more than he really needs to," squeaked the little hare. 

“We have to come up with something to stop this massacre," said the monkey. So they all joined together and went to meet the lion. 

“O king of the forest, we have come to make a small request," they all said to the lion. 

“Now what would that be?" asked the amused lion. 

“You are the king of the forest, but soon there will be no animals to rule over. So we beg you to stop this unreasonable killing and we promise that one of us will come to you everyday for your food," pleaded all the animals with the lion. 

So from that day, the animals drew lots to decide on who was to go to the lion as his prey. 

One day, the lots fell on the hare to visit the lion. All the animals consoled him and sent him on his way to meet his doom. But the hare was a clever animal. He did not want to die at the hands of the cruel lion. He saw an old well on the way. It was very deep and was a danger for all the animals. He thought of a plan. 

The little hare went to sleep near the well all day. In the evening, he made his way to the lion's den. The lion was terribly hungry by then and when he saw a tiny hare coming towards him, he became furious. 

“You little thing, how dare you come so late? How dare they send such a small animal? I will kill them all," the angry lion roared. 

“It is not my fault, O mighty lion. There were three other hares with me. But on the way here, another lion attacked us. I just managed to escape. The other three hares were eaten by that lion,"said the hare. 

“What? Another lion in my jungle? Take me to him immediately," said the lion in a fit of rage. 

The hare took the lion to the well and pointed it out to him from a distance. The other lion jumped out at us from inside the well when we tried to drink some water from the well. The lion rushed angrily to the well and peeped in. 

There inside the well he could see another lion glaring at him. What the foolish lion did not realise in his anger was that he was looking at his reflection. He roared angrily at the other lion. He heard an answering roar. 

It was only the echo of his own roar. But the lion thought that the other lion was challenging him. He jumped in and landed inside with a loud splash. And that was the end of the wicked lion. 

Gostou do artigo? Foi útil? Deixe seu joinha, compartilhe ou comente.

Image/Imagem: Google Images

Translation/Tradução: Heinz Claudius (when applicable)

Is it your copyright? Please see here.

The Indigo Jackal

In a jungle there lived a pack of jackals. They would hunt together to eat from the left-overs of the lion’s meal. One of the jackals was getting a little old. All the younger jackals bullied him and did not allow him to share the food. 

"I have to do something to satisfy my hunger. Like this, I will not survive for very long," thought the jackal to himself. 

He decided to leave his pack and go in search of food. He wandered around for many days but could not find any food. Everywhere he went, other animals chased him away. 

Finally he decided to venture into the village in search of food. After nightfall, the jackal walked down the village streets in search of food. Suddenly a pack of dogs began to chase the jackal. Scared for his life, the jackal ran as fast as his weak legs could carry him. Finding no way of escape, the jackal jumped into the first open house he found. 

Suddenly he found himself in a vat of foul smelling liquid. It was a vat of indigo dye. The house belonged to the village washer man. When the jackal climbed hurriedly out of the liquid and peered out fearfully, the dogs which were waiting for him outside, let out a howl and ran away with their tails tucked between their legs. The jackal was surprised. But finding the dogs gone, he carefully went back into the jungle. 

The jackal went to the water hole in the jungle to quench his thirst. As the jackal went closer, all the other animals which had come there ran aw ay in panic. The jackal looked around in surprise to see what had frightened them. But he saw nothing wrong. He was very thirsty and so went to the water hole to quench his thirst. As he bent down to drink, he was shocked to see a strange looking creature in a brilliant and unearthly colour looking up at him from the water. The jackal was first frightened, but soon realised that he was looking at his own reflection. He remembered the foul smelling liquid into which he had fallen. “So that is why all those dogs and all these animals in the forest were afraid!" he reasoned to himself. His cunning mind thought of a plan quickly. 

He called out to the frightened animals. “Do not be afraid of me. I have been sent down by Brahma to protect you." The animals all believed him at once and made him king. 

As the days went by, the jackal became prouder and lazier. He did not have to look for food any longer. His subjects would bring him food to cat and take care of every need of his. The jackal was very happy with his life. 

One full moon night, the pack of jackals to whom the jackal had belonged before began to howl at the moon. The indigo jackal had not heard his brothers howl for a long time. The urge to howl was too strong for him to control. He threw back his head and began to howl to hisheart’scontent. 

The other animals were astonished to hear their heaven sent king howl like a common jackal. And soon they realised their mistake. 

“This is no extraordinary animal sent by Brahma. He howls like a jackal," said the bear. “Yes. He is calling out to the other jackals." “He has fooled us." “He has to be punished," said several other animals. “Come let’s teach him a lesson." The animals joined together and gave the indigo jackal a severe beating. 

Gostou do artigo? Foi útil? Deixe seu joinha, compartilhe ou comente.

Image/Imagem: Google Images

Translation/Tradução: Heinz Claudius (when applicable)

Is it your copyright? Please see here.

The Frog and The Ox

On a lily pad in the little stream that flowed at the bottom of the meadow, there lived an old Frog. He was a big frog and he was very proud of his size. All the other frogs were in awe of him and treated him with the greatest respect. 

So did all the other creatures. The shining blue dragonflies that hovered over the stream during the day took great care to keep far out of the reach of his long sticky tongue. So did the little midges that fluttered by in a soft cloud in the evenings. Even the fishes in the stream were careful not to annoy him. The Frog ruled his watery kingdom unchallenged. 

The Farmer who owned the meadow by the stream also had an old Ox. The Ox had worked hard for the Farmer all his life. He had helped him plough his fields. Yoked to an old wooden cart, he had carried his crops to market and his children to school. But now the Ox was growing old. He no longer had the strength to work as hard as he used to. 

The Farmer was fond of his old Ox and grateful for all the hard work he had done over the years. He did not want to sell him. Instead, he decided to let the Ox spend his old age in peace, in the meadow by the stream. 

One fine morning, the Ox moved into the meadow. He wandered around the meadow, surveying his new home. The grass was soft and green and wildflowers dotted the ground. The Ox was happy. He planned to spend his days grazing on the sweet juicy grass and basking in the sun. 

The little creatures of the meadow stared at the Ox in fear and awe. The butterflies flew hurriedly out of his way. The hardworking ants and the busy bees stopped their work as the Ox walked slowly by. They had never seen any creature as big as the Ox. Not even the old Frog on the lily pad in the stream was quite this big! The Ox munched happily on the sweet grass. He did not even notice the tiny creatures. 

The Frog heard the dragonflies chattering excitedly among themselves about the huge monster who had come to live in the meadow. The dragonflies had heard it from the bumblebee who had heard it from the ladybird who had heard it from the ants who had almost been trampled on by the monster as it stomped by. 

'It is the largest, biggest, most enormous creature you ever saw!' cried the dragonflies. It has huge curving horns on its head and a tail so long and so strong that one whisk of it is enough to blow us all away!" 

The Frog did not believe a word that the dragonflies said. 'Ha! This monster of yours cannot be bigger than I am!’ he cried. ‘And horns and a tail, bah! They cannot be more fearsome than my long sticky tongue!' 

How could any creature be bigger than him? Was he not the largest, most magnificent frog in the world? The dragonflies were just being rude! 

The Frog stuck out his long sticky tongue and would have caught at least a dozen of the dragonflies had they not dodged in time. 

Just then the Ox strolled down to the stream. He was thirsty and wanted a drink. 

The dragonflies trembled in fear and rose up in a great shining cloud far above the reach of the Ox's curving horns and long tail. 

The Ox drank his fill and walking away from the stream, settled down for a nap. 

The old Frog on his lily pad saw the Ox and wondered what all the fuss was about. The terrible monster was nothing but a silly old Ox! And not a very large one either! When the Ox had walked away, he called out. ‘Hey. dragonflies, was this your terrible monster?’ 

The dragonflies rustled their shining wings and replied. ‘Yes, yes. Frog! Did you see how big he is?’ 

The Frog laughed scornfully. 'Big? You call that big? Why, I can be twice as big as that if I want to! Watch!" 

And the Frog took a deep breath, huffed and puffed and swelled up like a balloon. 

'There! Am I not as big as him now?' he asked the watching dragonflies, speaking with a little difficulty. 

'Oh no. Frog, not yet!' cried the dragonflies. 'The monster is MUCH bigger. Look at him sleeping in the grass! He looks huge!' 

‘Well, then. Watch me!' said the Frog. He took a deep breath, huffed and puffed and swelled up some more. ‘I must be bigger than him now!' he gasped. 

‘Ah no, Frog.’ Cried the dragonflies. 

‘The monster is MUCH bigger!’ 

The Frog was quite irritated with the dragonflies. His skin was feeling tight and stretched. It was difficult to sit As he felt he would roll over any moment and his cheeks were so puffed that his eyes were almost squeezed shut. He could barely see over his huge belly. He was sure he must be at least as big as the Ox by now! He decided to make one more attempt. He would show the dragonflies who was bigger! 

“Watch me,' he squeaked with great difficulty. 

He took as deep a breath as he could manage, huffed and puffed and swelled. He blew and he blew and he blew and he grew larger and larger and larger till suddenly. 

POP! 

The Frog had burst! 

Gostou do artigo? Foi útil? Deixe seu joinha, compartilhe ou comente.

Image/Imagem: Google Images

Translation/Tradução: Heinz Claudius (when applicable)

Is it your copyright? Please see here.

The Foolish Crow

The winter had been especially cold. The snow lay thick and heavy on the ground. The squirrels, the badgers and the hedgehogs had vanished into their snug winter homes to sleep away the cold, dark months. The swifts and the swallows had left for warmer countries long ago. Even the slugs and snails had disappeared, hiding away in some dark, warm patch of woodland to wait for the spring. The woods and fields were silent and empty. Only a big, black Crow was hunting for her evening meal. 

The Crow had flown all day in search of food. But she had found nothing, not even a tiny mouse or a piece of someone’s leftover lunch. Now she was tired and hungry. She cawed sadly. 

“I will have to go without dinner tonight,’ she thought as she flapped slowly across the sky in one last desperate search for something to eat. 

She was on the point of turning back when she saw a thin column of smoke coming up into the sky, far away in the distance. 

“Smoke means fire and fire means cooking and cooking means food!" thought the Crow. She flew as fast as she could, towards the curling smoke. The smoke came from the chimney of a large farmhouse where the farmer's wife was cooking dinner for her family. A delicious-smelling stew was bubbling in a large pot over the fire and loaves of fresh-baked bread were on the table, ready to be cut into slices. A pat of butter and a chunk of cheese lay in their platters on the window sill. The farmer’s wife had left the window open so the cold air would keep the butter from melting and the cheese from sweating. 

The Crow saw the cheese by the open window. Quick as a flash, she flew down to the window sill, picked cheese in her big black beak and flew off. The farmer’s wife was stirring the stew, with her back to the window. She did not see the Crow. The Crow was very pleased with herself. 'Nothing like a piece of cheese on a cold winter afternoon!' she thought. 

She flew towards a clump of tall trees and perched comfortably on a bare branch high above the ground to enjoy her meal in comfort. 

A wily old Fox lay hidden among the bushes in the farmer’s garden. He had roamed the woods and fields all day in search of food. But he had found nothing to eat, not a bird nor a mouse nor even the scraps from someone’s picnic. Now he was tired and hungry. 

“I will have to go without dinner tonight.’ he sighed. 

He was on the point of turning back, when he saw the Crow perch on the bare branch with the piece of cheese in her beak. 

“What a lovely, smelly piece of cheese!' thought the Fox. I must have that piece of cheese for my dinner. Now, if only I can take that cheese away from the Crow…" 

The Fox watched the Crow settle herself comfortably on the branch. He smiled slyly to himself. Strolling up to the foot of the tree, the Fox called out. 

“Good evening. Mrs. Crow! You look well today!' 

The Crow looked down at the Fox in surprise. She had never heard him speak so politely before. 

The Fox continued. 'Oh Mrs. Crow, how beautiful you are! Your feathers are so black! So smooth and shining! Truly. I have never seen such feathers before!' 

The Crow was even more surprised. No one had ever called her beautiful before! Of course, she had always known how pretty she was. But it was pleasant to be admired by some one else. 

The Fox looked up at her and sighed. ‘How graceful you are. Mrs. Crow, how elegant! You fly so wonderfully well too and higher than an eagle!' 

The Crow held herself taller. She had always known how graceful and elegant she was. Of course, she could fly most wonderfully high! How clever of the Fox to know that. She flapped her wings just a little bit so he could admire them again. What a charming creature he was! 

The Fox took a deep breath and continued. ‘Your claws, ahem, I mean your talons. Mrs. Crow! They are stronger than steel!' 

Ah… her talons! She had always been proud of her talons. She hopped clumsily on the branch so that the Fox could take another look at her claws. Really, he did say the nicest things! 

The Crow was by now quite sure that she was the prettiest, most graceful and the strongest bird of all. 

The Fox smiled secretly to himself. He looked admiringly at the Crow and said. 'Dear Mrs. Crow. I have not heard your voice. It must be the sweetest voice in the world, as beautiful as you are. Dear Mrs. Crow, won't you sing for me?' 

The Crow was flattered. All the other birds had told her that she had an awful voice. And here was the Fox begging her to sing for him! Of course, she had always known what a lovely voice she had... 

The Crow took a deep breath and opened her beak in a loud and raucous Caw!' Down dropped the piece of cheese! The Fox snapped it up as it fell and swallowed it before the Crow realised what had happened. 

The Fox walked off chuckling. ’Next time, Mrs. Crow, be careful what you believe!' he cried as he vanished through the trees. 

The Crow was left feeling foolish. How could she have been so vain and so silly, as to be taken in by the Fox's clever words and to lose her lovely dinner! 

The Crow ruffled her feathers sadly and got ready for a hungry night. 

Gostou do artigo? Foi útil? Deixe seu joinha, compartilhe ou comente.

Image/Imagem: Google Images

Translation/Tradução: Heinz Claudius (when applicable)

Is it your copyright? Please see here.