One bright evening as the sun was sinking on a glorious world a wise old Cock flew into a tree to roost. Before he composed himself to rest, he flapped his wings three times and crowed loudly.
But just as he was about to put his head under his wing, his beady eyes caught a flash of red and a glimpse of a long pointed nose, and there just below him stood Master Fox. "Have you heard the wonderful news?" cried the Fox in a very joyful and excited manner. "What news?" asked the Cock very calmly. But he had a queer, fluttery feeling inside him, for, you know, he was very much afraid of the Fox.
"Your family and mine and all other animals have agreed to forget their differences and live in peace and friendship from now on forever. Just think of it! I simply cannot wait to embrace you! Do come down, dear friend, and let us celebrate the joyful event."
"How grand!" said the Cock. "I certainly am delighted at the news." But he spoke in an absent way, and stretching up on tiptoes, seemed to be looking at something afar off. "What is it you see?" asked the Fox a little anxiously. "Why, it looks to me like a couple of Dogs coming this way. They must have heard the good news and—"
But the Fox did not wait to hear more. Off he started on a run. "Wait," cried the Cock. "Why do you run? The Dogs are friends of yours now!" "Yes," answered the Fox. "But they might not have heard the news. Besides, I have a very important errand that I had almost forgotten about." The Cock smiled as he buried his head in his feathers and went to sleep, for he had succeeded in outwitting a very crafty enemy.
Introduction
A wise rooster sees through a fox's tricks in this classic Aesop fable. A bedtime story teaching children about wisdom and quick thinking.
About Aesop
Aesop was a Greek storyteller credited with a number of fables now collectively known as Aesop's Fables. His stories often involve animals and convey simple moral lessons.
Moral of the Story
The wise are not easily fooled by flattery. This fable teaches that clever people can recognize when someone is trying to trick them.
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The Cock & the Fox
A wise rooster sees through a fox's tricks in this classic Aesop fable. A bedtime story teaching children about wisdom and quick thinking.
Origin of the Fable
The Cock and the Fox is a fable attributed to Aesop, a storyteller from Ancient Greece. It has been retold for centuries as a lesson in mindfulness and wit.
About Aesop
Aesop was a Greek storyteller credited with a number of fables now collectively known as Aesop's Fables. His stories often involve animals and convey simple moral lessons.
Moral of the Story
The wise are not easily fooled by flattery. This fable teaches that clever people can recognize when someone is trying to trick them.
wisdom
quick-thinking
self-protection
Activities for Kids
Discuss the story with your child!
🎨Ask your child to draw the rooster and the fox.
💬Role-play the conversation between the rooster and the fox.
✨Talk about why it's important to be careful with strangers.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓Why did the fox tell the rooster about 'peace' between animals?
The fox wanted to trick the rooster into coming down from the tree so he could eat him.
❓How did the rooster know the fox was lying?
The rooster was wise and suspected a trick. He tested the fox by mentioning dogs, which scared the fox away.
❓What is the moral of The Cock and the Fox?
The moral is that wise people are not easily fooled by flattery and can often outsmart tricksters.
