The Tortoise and the Hare AND The Fox and the Crow

The Tortoise and the Hare One day a hare (a kind of rabbit) was bragging about how fast he could run and laughing at a tortoise (a kind of turtle) for being slow. Much to the hare’s surprise, the tortoise challenged the hare to a race. Thinking that this was very funny, the hare accepted the challenge. The tortoise and the hare asked their friend the fox to judge the race. The race began, and of course, the hare was soon far ahead of the tortoise. Soon the hare had reached the halfway point in the race. Because it was a beautiful sunny day, the hare decided to stop running and play awhile. He then took a nap in in a shady spot. “Even if the tortoise passes me while I sleep,” thought the hare. “ I can easily catch up and reach the finish first.” The tortoise, meanwhile, kept walking along slowly and steadily toward the finish line. He couldn’t run nearly as fast as the hare, but he never stopped to rest or play. While the tortoise continued on, the hare lost track of time and slept longer than he had intended. When the hare woke up, he was surprised that the tortoise was nowhere in sight. The hare jumped up and ran off at full speed! But when the hare reached the finish line, he found that the tortoise was already there waiting for him. Although the tortoise was much slower than the hare, because the tortoise did not stop to rest, he won the race. The End Moral of the story: Slow and steady wins the race! The Fox and the Crow A Fox once saw a Crow fly off with a piece of cheese in its beak and settle on a branch of a tree. "That's for me, as I am a Fox," said Master Reynard, and he walked up to the foot of the tree. "Good-day, Mistress Crow," he cried. "How well you are looking to-day: how glossy your feathers; how bright your eye. I feel sure your voice must surpass that of other birds, just as your figure does; let me hear but one song from you that I may greet you as the Queen of Birds." The Crow lifted up her head and began to caw her best, but the moment she opened her mouth the piece of cheese fell to the ground, only to be snapped up by Master Fox. "That will do," said he. "That was all I wanted. In exchange for your cheese I will give you a piece of advice for the future: "Do not trust flatterers."