The winter was particularly cold. Snow covered the ground in a thick layer. The squirrels and hedgehogs had disappeared into their warm winter homes to sleep away from the cold, dark months. Even the mollusks and snails had disappeared. Everyone hid waiting for spring. The forests and fields were silent and empty. Only the large black crow was searching for an evening meal.
The crow moved every day searching for food but found nothing, not even a small mouse or a piece of leftover food from someone. He became so tired and hungry that he began talking to himself: It seems I will go without dinner tonight. He kept flying through the sky in a desperate last search. He was about to return when he saw a column of smoke rising in the sky.
Smoke means fire, fire means cooking, and cooking means food! The crow thought and flew as fast as he could toward the smoke. He found the smoke coming from the chimney of a large farm where the farmer’s wife was cooking dinner. The soup smelled delicious in a large pot on the fire. A loaf of fresh bread was on the table waiting to be cut into slices, and a piece of butter and a piece of cheese were on dishes on the window. The farmer’s wife had left the window open to keep the butter from melting.
The crow saw the piece of cheese from the open window. It was shining and beautiful. He flew to the window, snatched the piece of cheese in his large black beak, and flew away. The farm wife was busy stirring the soup. The crow was very happy and said to himself: Nothing is like a piece of cheese after the cold day in winter! He flew toward the tall trees and stood on a high branch to enjoy his meal.
The cunning fox was hiding among the bushes. He had been roaming the forest and fields all day searching for food but found nothing to eat. He began saying to himself: I will have to go without dinner tonight. As he was returning, he saw the crow on a high branch with a piece of cheese in his beak.
The fox thought of a trick to get the piece of cheese from the crow. He went to walk in front of the tree in front of the crow, then called him: Good evening, you look good today! The crow looked down surprised. He had not heard the fox speaking politely before. The fox continued: Oh master crow, how beautiful you are! Your feathers are very black! So smooth! Truly, I have never seen such feathers before!
The crow was very surprised that no one had described him as beautiful before. The fox continued: What this elegant figure! You fly higher than the eagle. The crow was impressed with the fox’s praise and admiration for him. The fox continued in praise: I have never seen claws like your claws. They are the most beautiful things about you. Everything about you is beautiful. The fox smiled secretly, seeing the effect of his praise on the crow. He said, looking at the crow with admiration: Dear crow, I have not heard your voice. It must be the sweetest voice in the world. Beautiful like you, is it possible that you sing for me?
The temptation with flattery was this time, and all the other birds had told him that his voice was terrible. Here the fox began begging him to sing for him! The crow took a deep breath and opened his beak with a loud and noisy voice: Caw! The piece of cheese fell! The fox pounced on it and swallowed it. The crow realized what had happened.
The fox walked away and disappeared through the trees, leaving the crow regretful, leaving him feeling stupid for being convinced by foolish talk and losing his beautiful dinner. The crow became sad and returned home without dinner.
Translated from the story: The Foolish Crow