The Eagle and the Jackdaw
An Eagle, swooping down on powerful wings, seized a lamb in her talons and made off with it to her nest. A Crow saw the deed, and his silly head was filled with the idea that he was big and strong enough to do as the Eagle had done.
So with much rustling of feathers and a fierce air, he came down swiftly on the back of a large Ram.
But when he tried to rise again, he found that he could not get away, for his claws were tangled in the wool.
And so far was he from carrying away the Ram, that the Ram hardly noticed he was there.
The Shepherd saw the fluttering Crow and at once guessed what had happened. Running up, he caught the bird and clipped its wings. That evening he gave the Crow to his children.
“What a funny bird this is!” they said laughing, “what do you call it, Father?”
“That is a Crow, my children. But if you should ask him, he would say he is an Eagle.”
Moral of the story
Don’t pretend to be something you’re not: Trying to act stronger or more important than you are can lead to trouble.
Vanity can lead to consequences: Being too proud and vain may result in embarrassment.
Questions for the children
- Why do you think the Crow wanted to imitate the Eagle?
- What do you think the Crow learned from this experience?
Post Note: This story is based on Aesop’s fable, written around 600 BC. In this retelling, we’ve used simpler words to make the story easier for young readers to understand.
