Storyclover
Storyclover
At sunrise, a female crow with glossy charcoal-black feathers, bright black eyes, a small silver-blue band on her left leg, and a golden crust of bread held in her beak perched high in an oak tree.
The Crow Who Sang for a FoxA fox flatters a crow into opening her beak, and the crow learns that praise can hide a hungry purpose.
1. At sunrise, a female crow with glossy charcoal-black feathers, bright black eyes, a small silver-blue band on her left leg, and a golden crust of bread held in her beak perched high in an oak tree.
2. A fox came to the tree. He saw the bread, and his stomach gave a hopeful rumble.
3. “Good morning,” said the fox. “What a splendid bird you are!”
4. The crow lifted her chin. She had never heard such fine words.
5. “Your feathers shine like rain-washed stars,” said the fox. “Your eyes are bright as berries.”
6. The crow edged closer to the branch’s end. The fox’s compliments curled around her like warm sunshine.
7. “Surely,” said the fox, “a bird so beautiful must have a beautiful voice.”
8. The crow opened her beak. “Caw!” she sang.
9. The bread dropped to the moss. The fox caught it before it could roll away.
10. “Thank you,” said the fox. “Your song was exactly what I hoped for.”
11. The crow watched him chew. His praise had been sweet, but it had wanted something.
12. From that day on, the crow listened carefully. Praise can sound lovely, but it may hide a hungry purpose.
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