James Baldwin

The Fox and the Crane

"Come and dine with me to-day," said the Fox to the Crane.

"Thank you," said the Crane; "I will do so with pleasure."

But after the dinner she was as hungry as before. All that the Fox had offered her was some thin soup in a shallow plate. With her long, sharp bill it was as much as she could do to get a taste, while the Fox with his broad tongue quickly lapped it all up.

"Come and dine with me to-morrow," said the Crane.

"Thank you," said the Fox; "I will do so with pleasure."

He went in great glee, but he came home sad. The Crane had offered him plenty of good food, but had served it in tall, narrow-necked bottles. With his broad tongue he could not get so much as a taste, while the Crane with her long, sharp bill easily reached and ate up the whole of it.