The Fox Without a Tail
A Fox gets free of a trap but has to leave his beautiful bushy tail behind, and for a long time he keeps away from the other foxes. Then he calls a meeting and tells them all to cut off their tails, until a wise old fox points out why he gives that advice.
Scene 1: Caught in a Trap
The Fox Without a Tail. One day a Fox caught his tail in a trap. He tugged and tugged, and at last he got free. But he had to leave his beautiful bushy tail behind him.
Scene 2: All Alone
For a long time the Fox kept away from the other foxes. He knew they would make fun of him, and laugh behind his back. But it was hard for him to live alone. At last he thought of a plan.
Scene 3: A Meeting of the Foxes
He called a meeting of all the foxes. He said he had something very important to tell them. When they had all gathered together, the Fox Without a Tail stood up and spoke. He told them how a tail gets in the way when the dogs are chasing you. And how it gets in the way when you want to sit down and talk with your friends.
Scene 4: Cut Off Your Tails
Then he said: “Cut off your tails! They’re ugly things anyhow. And besides, they’re heavy, and it’s tiresome to be always carrying them about with you.”
Scene 5: An Old Fox Answers
Then one of the older foxes stood up, and said with a smile: “That is all very well, but I do not think you would have recommended us to dispense with our chief ornament, if you had not happened to lose it yourself.” All the foxes laughed. Not one of them would part with his tail. Do not listen to the advice of him who seeks to lower you to his own level. Or, as another old book says: distrust interested advice.
Moral: Do not listen to the advice of him who seeks to lower you to his own level.
Questions about The Fox Without a Tail
What happened to the Fox's tail?
It was caught in a trap, and he had to leave it behind.
Why did the Fox keep away from the other foxes?
He knew they would make fun of him.
What did the Fox say a tail gets in the way of?
Running from the dogs and sitting down to talk with friends.
What did the Fox tell the other foxes to do?
Cut off their tails.
Who answered the Fox at the meeting?
One of the older foxes.
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.