The Sheep and the Pig
One day a shepherd found a chubby Pig in the meadow where his Sheep were grazing. He quickly captured the porker, which squealed loudly the moment the Shepherd grabbed it. You would have thought, to hear the loud squealing, that the Pig was being cruelly hurt.
But despite its squeals and struggles to escape, the Shepherd tucked his prize under his arm and started off to the butcher’s in the marketplace.
The Sheep in the pasture were much surprised and amused at the Pig’s behavior and followed the Shepherd and his charge to the pasture gate.
“What makes you squeal like that?” asked one of the Sheep.
“The Shepherd often catches and carries off one of us. But we should feel very much ashamed to make such a terrible fuss about it like you do.”
“That is all very well,” replied the Pig, with a squeal and a frantic kick. “When he catches you, he is only after your wool. But he wants my bacon! gree-ee-ee!”
Moral of the story
Looks can be misleading: Don’t judge solely based on appearances; things may not be as they seem.
Stay calm in real danger: Save the panic for real threats; exaggerated reactions can cause unnecessary chaos.
Questions for the children
- Why do you think the Pig was squealing so loudly?
- How do you feel about the Pig’s response to the Sheep’s question?
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.
