The Bat and the Weasels

A Bat who fell upon the ground and was caught by a Weasel pleaded to be spared his life. The Weasel refused, saying that he was by nature the enemy of all birds. The Bat assured him that he was not a bird, but a mouse, and thus was set free. Shortly afterwards the Bat again fell to the ground and was caught by another Weasel,whom he likewise entreated not to eat him. The Weasel said that he had a special hostility to mice. The Bat assured him that he was not a mouse, but a bat, and thus a second time escaped.

It is wise to turn circumstances to good account.


I chose this story in that I like bat's wisdom according to the situations to survive.

A Chinese fable

Blessing or Bane

Near china’s northern borders lived a man who is well versed in the practices of Taoism. His horse, for no reason at all , ran into the territory of the northern tribes. Everyone commiserated with him.

“Perhaps this will soon turn out to be a blessing,” said his father.

After a few months, his animal came back, leading a fine horse from the north. Everyone congratulated him.

“Perhaps this will soon turn out to be a cause of misfortune,” said his father.

Since he was well-off and kept that good horse, his son became like to ride and eventually broke his thighbone falling from a horse. Everyone commiserated with him.

“Perhaps this will soon turn out to be a cause of misfortune,” said his father.

One year later, the northern tribes started a big invasion of the border regions. All strong young men took up arms and fought against the invaders, and as a result, around the border nine out of ten men died. This man’s son did not join in the fighting because he was crippled and both the boy and his father survived.

This Chinese fable is very popular and very little children know it in China. Its moral is to caution people facing everything you meet in a placid mood. Sometimes the felicities you get will become a cause of misfortune, however sometimes your adversity will turn into a beginning of your luck. In our life, we will go through lot of unexpected things, for better of worse we should treat them composedly.

A fox fable

One day, while he was out walking, a fox saw a crow swoop down and pick up a piece of cheese in its beak. The crow then flapped its wings and flew up onto a high branch in a nearby tree.
“Man, that's a tasty looking piece of cheese,” said the fox to himself.
“Hey, I should have that cheese. I’m the fox and I deserve it,” he said. “I’m a sly, smooth talking fox too. I’ll have it soon enough."
The fox walked over to the foot of the tree. “Hi ya, Miss Crow” cried the fox.
“How are you today?" asked the fox. "You’re looking mighty fine. Is there something different about you? Have you changed shampoo?"
"Your feathers look so glossy and black and your eyes are sparkling like diamonds," said the fox, flattering the crow. "Hey, have you lost weight? Your figure looks great,”
“Wow, if you can sing as good as you look then I'll have to call you Queen of all Birds” said the fox.
Flattered by all the compliments from the fox, and wanting to be called Queen of all Birds, the crow lifted her head and began to sing.
But the moment she opened her mouth the cheese fell out, and the quick fox jumped and caught it before it hit the ground.
“Yes!!!” yelled the fox, holding the cheese up over his head as he did his victory dance. “I got what I wanted.”
The fox looked up at the sad crow in the tree. “To show you I’m not a really bad guy I’ll give you some advice for the future” he said to the crow.
“ Never trust a flatterer.”



Moral from this fable
: We should not trust one's words so easily. People, especially who like to flatter, are sometimes untrustworthy. So we should be careful about other people's saying. Actually the crow in this fable is quite silly, but the fable gives us another lesson through the fox. The two main lessons that the storyteller wants to say are ; Never deceive innocent people with greedily and never be cheated foolishly.

My favorite fable

There are a lot of fables in the world. When I was young, I used to read the fable books my parents gave me all day long. Though I can't remember all of fables I read, I like many fables. My favorite fable is always 'The hare and the tortoise' which is the most popular. Because it is similar to my value I have as I live. I believe that 'being steday' and 'doing one's best' are the most important things for coming true one's dream regardless of having natural talent or own environment. Of course, talent and environment are thankful factors, I know. But if someone wants to get anything, if try to accomplish that steadily and effortfully, there is nothing impossible.

A content of the fable is following.


"The hare and the tortoise"

Once upon a time, there was a hare who always boasted about his speed. And he made fun of the tortoise for being so slow. Then one day, the angry tortoise answered back, "You may be swift like the wind," said the tortoise. "But even you can be beaten,"The hare laughed, "Beaten in a race? I'm the fastest in the forest. Nobody can beat me." The tortoise said, "I can. I'll race you to prove it." The hare was amused at the idea of running a race with the tortoise, but he agreed. They planned the starting line for the course. Then they marked the finish line. The next day at dawn, the hare and the tortoise stood at the starting line. The hare yawned sleepily. All the animals in the forest gathered to watch. The race started. The hare soon left the tortoise far behind. Once he reached the midway mark, he slowed down. Then he stopped and looked back at the tortoise. “That tortoise will never catch me," he thought. "There is plenty of time to relax.” He lay down and took a nap. But the tortoise continued walking. He never stopped.After a time, the tortoise passed the place where the hare was sleeping. The hare slept on and on. At last the tortoise was near the finish line. The animals who were watching cheered loudly, so their noise woke the hare. The hare stretched and yawned and began to run again. But he was too late. The tortoise was over the finish line. The tortoise won the race!

Fable

The Ant and the Chrysalis


An Ant nimbly running about in the sunshine in
search of food cameacross a Chrysalis that was
very near its time of change. The Chrysalis moved
its tail, and thus attracted the attention of the Ant,
who then saw for the first time that it was alive.
"Poor, pitiable animal!" cried the Ant disdainfully.
"What a sad fate is yours! While I can run hither and
thither, at my pleasure, and, if I wish, ascend the
tallest tree, you lie imprisoned here in your shell,
with power only to move a joint or two of your scaly tail."
The Chrysalis heard all this, but did not try to make
any reply. A few days after, when the Ant passed that
way again, nothing but the shell remained. Wondering what
had become of its contents, he felt himself suddenly
shaded and fanned by the gorgeous wings of a beautiful
Butterfly. "Behold in me," said the Butterfly,
"your much-pitied friend! Boast now of your powers to run
and climb as long as you can get me tolisten."
So saying, the Butterfly rose in the air, and, borne along
and aloft on the summer breeze, was soon lost to the
sight of the Ant forever.

***

The moral lesson of this story was that appearance can
sometimes be misleading and you shouldn't judge the book
by its covers. I think this story is also telling us that
it's wrong to judge other people too quickly because the
first impression isn't always the right one. In the story
the ant was too arrogant and over confident, that kind of
attitude is very harmful. You should always respect others
no matter what!