The Fox and the Stork
The Fox invites the Stork to dinner and serves soup in a dish so shallow that she can only wet the tip of her bill. The calm Stork invites him back and serves a fish dinner in a tall jar with a narrow neck, which the Fox can only lick from the outside.
Scene 1: An Invitation
The Fox and the Stork. The Fox was always laughing at the Stork, with her long legs, her long neck and her long, thin bill. One day he thought of a plan to have some fun at her expense. Smiling to himself, he said: “You must come and dine with me today.” The Stork gladly said yes.
Scene 2: Soup in a Shallow Dish
The Stork arrived in good time, and with a very good appetite. For dinner the Fox served soup. But it was set out in a very shallow dish. All the Stork could do was wet the very tip of her bill. Not a drop of soup could she get. But the Fox lapped it up easily, and made a great show of enjoying it. Then he said: “I am sorry the soup is not to your liking.”
Scene 3: Come and Dine with Me
The hungry Stork was not pleased with the trick. But she was calm and even-tempered, and saw no good in flying into a rage. Instead she said: “Please do not apologize. I hope you will return this visit, and come and dine with me soon.”
Scene 4: A Tall Jar
Not long afterward, the Fox arrived at the Stork’s home, right on time. The Stork served a fish dinner that had a very tasty smell. But it was served in a tall jar with a very narrow neck. The Stork could easily reach the food with her long bill. But all the Fox could do was lick the outside of the jar, and sniff at the delicious smell.
Scene 5: The Same Treatment
The Fox lost his temper. But the Stork said calmly: “I will not apologize for the dinner.” Do not play tricks on your neighbors unless you can stand the same treatment yourself. Or, as another old book says: one bad turn deserves another.
Moral: Do not play tricks on your neighbors unless you can stand the same treatment yourself.
Questions about The Fox and the Stork
What did the Fox serve the Stork for dinner?
Soup in a very shallow dish.
What was all the Stork could do with the soup?
Wet the very tip of her bill.
How did the Stork feel about the trick, and what did she do?
She stayed calm and invited the Fox to dinner.
What did the Stork serve the Fox?
A fish dinner in a tall jar with a narrow neck.
What could the Fox do with the jar?
Lick the outside and sniff the smell.
More stories to read aloud
- The Lion and the Mouse — A Lion catches a little Mouse but laughs and lets her go when she promises to repay him.
- The Hare and the Tortoise — A boastful Hare laughs at the slow Tortoise, so the Tortoise challenges him to a race.
- Belling the Cat — The Mice hold a council and a young Mouse has a clever plan: hang a bell about the Cat’s neck.