The Fox and the Stork

: Aesop's Fables

At one time the Fox and the Stork were on visiting terms and

seemed very good friends. So the Fox invited the Stork to dinner,

and for a joke put nothing before her but some soup in a very

shallow dish. This the Fox could easily lap up, but the Stork

could only wet the end of her long bill in it, and left the meal

as hungry as when she began. "I am sorry," said the Fox, "the

soup is not to your liking."



"Pray do not apologise," said the Stork. "I hope you will

return this visit, and come and dine with me soon." So a day was

appointed when the Fox should visit the Stork; but when they were

seated at table all that was for their dinner was contained in a

very long-necked jar with a narrow mouth, in which the Fox could

not insert his snout, so all he could manage to do was to lick the

outside of the jar.



"I will not apologise for the dinner," said the Stork:



"One bad turn deserves another."



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