Fable
The Tortoise and The Ducks
The Tortoise, you know, carries his house on
his back. No matter how hard he tries, he cannot leave home. They say that
Jupiter punished him so, because he was such a lazy stay-at-home that he would
not go to Jupiter's wedding, even when especially invited.
After
many years, Tortoise began to wish he had gone to that wedding. When he saw how
gaily the birds flew about and how the Hare and the Chipmunk and all the other
animals ran nimbly by, always eager to see everything there was to be seen, the
Tortoise felt very sad and discontented. He wanted to see the world too, and
there he was with a house on his back and little short legs that could hardly
drag him along.
One
day he met a pair of Ducks and told them all his trouble.
"We
can help you to see the world," said the Ducks. "Take hold of this
stick with your teeth and we will carry you far up in the air where you can see
the whole countryside. But keep quiet or you will be sorry."
The
Tortoise was very glad indeed. He seized the stick firmly with his teeth, the
two Ducks took hold of it one at each end, and away they sailed up toward the
clouds.
Just
then a Crow flew by. He was very much astonished at the strange sight and
cried:
"This
must surely be the King of Tortoises!"
"Why
certainly—" began the Tortoise.
But
as he opened his mouth to say these foolish words, he lost his hold on the
stick, and down he fell to the ground, where he was dashed to pieces on a rock.
Moral
- Foolish curiosity and vanity often lead to misfortune.
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