Stag & His Reflection
A Stag, drinking from a crystal spring, saw himself mirrored in the clear water. He greatly admired the graceful arch of his antlers, but he was very much ashamed of his spindling legs.
“How can it be,” he sighed, “that I should be cursed with such legs when I have so magnificent a crown.”
At that moment, he scented a panther and in an instant was bounding away through the forest.
But as he ran, his wide-spreading antlers caught in the branches of the trees, and soon the Panther overtook him.
Then the Stag perceived that the legs of which he was so ashamed would have saved him had it not been for the useless ornaments on his head.
Moral of the story
Value what’s useful: Sometimes, practical things are more important than fancy ones.
Don’t underestimate yourself: Every part of you has its importance.
Questions for the children
- Why do you think the Stag was ashamed of his legs?
- Can you think of a time when something you thought was not important turned out to be useful?
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.
