The Fox and the Crow

The Fox and the Crow (A version of the tale by TheFableCottage.com) Early one morning, a fox is
walking through the woods. He is hungry, and he is
looking for something to eat. He sees a crow sitting on the
highest branch of a tree. The crow has a piece of cheese
in her beak. “Mmm… I love cheese!" thinks the fox. "I think I’ve found my breakfast! But how can I get the cheese?" ‍He thinks and he thinks. Then he has a clever idea. "I will make her talk!" He sits at the bottom of the
tree and looks up at the crow. “Good morning, Miss Crow!” he says. "It’s a lovely day, isn’t it?" ‍The crow looks down at the fox. She says nothing. "I said, good morning!" says the fox. "Did you hear me? Maybe you
can't hear me up there...” ‍The crow is suspicious. She holds the cheese tightly
in her beak and says nothing. "Hmm. This is not so easy,"
thinks the fox. But he doesn’t give up. He smiles at the crow. “You know… you really are
the most beautiful bird,” he says. Your feathers are so shiny! Your eyes are so intelligent! Your beak is so…umm… pointy! Everything about you is perfect!” Still, the crow says nothing. So the fox says: “Tell me, Miss Crow… is your voice ALSO magnificent? I hear that you have the
most wonderful voice. Please sing for me! Just one song! Then I can tell everyone you really
are the most incredible bird — — the queen of all birds, in fact!” This makes the crow feel good. She wants everyone to know
she has a wonderful voice. She wants everyone to know
that she is the queen of all birds. She smiles a little smile. Then she smiles a big smile. Then she opens her mouth to sing
her best song for the fox. And… plop! The cheese drops out of her beak and
falls straight into the mouth of the fox. He swallows it in one gulp. "MMmmmmm!" "Thank you for the delicious
breakfast, Miss Crow!" laughs the fox as he walks away. "Have a lovely day!” Moral: Beware of flatterers. They often want something from you.