34 lines
2.1 KiB
Plaintext
34 lines
2.1 KiB
Plaintext
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THE FOX AND THE CROW
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Once upon a time . . . a big crow stole a lump of cheese and went to perch
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on a branch of a tree to eat it in peace. A passing fox sniffed the air and
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stopped below the tree, his mouth watering.
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"Cheese?" he said. "Mmm. I'd love . . . if only I could . . ." he said to
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himself, greedily, wondering how to get hold of the morsel.
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After a moment or two, he spoke to the crow: "You are a fine crow! I've
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never seen anyone so big and strong. What lovely thick shiny feathers you
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have! And such slender legs, the sign of a noble bird. And a regal beak.
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That's it: the beak of a king! You ought to be crowned King of the Birds!"
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When the crow heard such glowing praise of his beauty, he stretched to his
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full length and triumphantly flapped hls wlngs.
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In his softest voice, the fox went on: "What lovely eyes you have. You
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don't seem to have a single fault! You're quite perfect." The crow had never
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been flattered so much in all his life. "Though I haven't heard your voice
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yet," went on the fox, "I expect that such a perfect creature like yourself
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can have nothing less than a wonderful singing voice!"
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The crow had, till then, been blissfully drinking in the fox's praise, but
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he felt a prick of doubt at the sweet words about his voice. He had never
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heard that crows were fine singers! Of course, being a very fine crow, perhaps
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that meant he had a beautiful voice as well. The fox could be right! And the
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crow gazed down at the fox as he said: "Now then, King of the Birds, let me
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hear a sweet song . . ."
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Throwing caution to the winds, the crow opened his beak and, taking a deep
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breath, loudly cawed: "Cra, Cra, Cra!" The lump of cheese fell through the air
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and the fox caught it neatly in his jaws. "I deserved that!" he told himself
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as he enjoyed the titbit. Then, licking his lips, he again spoke to the crow
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on the branch.
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"Silly crow. You're the ugliest bird I've ever seen, you have the worst
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voice I ve ever heard, but most of all, you're the most stupid bird I've ever
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met! And thanks for the cheese." And off he trotted well satisfied with
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hlmself...
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