The Aesop for Children by Milo Winter
The Tortoise and the Ducks
The Tortoise, you know, carries
his house on his back. No matter
how hard he tries, he cannot leave
home. They say that Jupiter punished
him so, because he was such
a lazy stay-at-home that he would
not go to Jupiter's wedding, even
when especially invited.
After many years, Tortoise
began to wish he had gone to that
wedding. When he saw how gaily
the birds flew about and how the
Hare and the Chipmunk and all
the other animals ran nimbly by,
always eager to see everything
there was to be seen, the Tortoise
felt very sad and discontented.
He wanted to see the world too,
and there he was with a house on
his back and little short legs that
could hardly drag him along.
One day he met a pair of
Ducks and told them all his
trouble.
"We can help you to see the
world," said the Ducks. "Take
hold of this stick with your teeth
and we will carry you far up in
the air where you can see the
whole countryside. But keep
quiet or you will be sorry."
The Tortoise was very glad
indeed. He seized the stick firmly
with his teeth, the two Ducks
took hold of it one at each end,
and away they sailed up toward
the clouds.
![[Illustration]](http://www.gatewaytotheclassics.com/gold/books/winter/aesop/winter_aesop_zpage012.gif)
Just then a Crow flew by.
He was very much astonished at
the strange sight and cried:
"This must surely be the King
of Tortoises!"
"Why certainly—" began the
Tortoise.
But as he opened his mouth
to say these foolish words he lost
his hold on the stick, and down
he fell to the ground, where he
was dashed to pieces on a rock.
Foolish curiosity and vanity often lead to misfortune. | 
