Twistales

A wolf gobbled his prey so greedily that a bone got stuck in his throat, and in extreme pain, he ran and howled across the forest, pleading every animal he met to pull out the bone. He even offered a generous reward to anyone who could pull it out. Moved by his request as well…

An ox was grazing in a marshy field when he accidentally set his foot down on top of a bunch of young frogs and crushed nearly all of them to death. One that managed to escape ran off to tell his mother the dreadful news. “Mother,” he said, “it was a beast, a big four…

A fox agreed to work for a lion as a servant, and for awhile, each carried out his respective duties according to his own nature and powers. The fox used to point out the prey, and the lion would attack and seize it. The fox, however, soon became jealous of the lion for carrying off…

A dog had stolen a piece of meat out of a butcher shop and was crossing a river on his way home when he saw his own shadow reflected in the water below. Thinking that it was another dog with another piece of meat, he became intent on capturing the other piece as well. Once…

Two young cocks were fighting fiercely for the right to rule a dunghill. At last, the one who was beaten crept into the corner of the hen house, covered with wounds. The victor flew straight to the top of an outhouse, clapped his wings, and crowed loudly to announce his victory. Just then an eagle…

A tortoise was dissatisfied with his lowly life and with crawling about on the ground at a snail’s pace. He envied the birds, who could soar high into the clouds whenever they desired. He thought that, if he could but once get up into the air, he would be able to fly with the best…

Hearing that a hen was laid up sick in her nest, a cat paid a visit out of sympathy. After creeping up to her, he said, “How are you, my dear friend? What can I do for you? Do you need anything? Just tell me, and I’ll bring you anything in the world you want.…

After hearing some grasshoppers chirping, an ass was enchanted by their music and wanted to acquire the same melodic charms. When he asked them what they ate to sing so sweetly, they told him that they dined on nothing but dew. Consequently, the ass followed the same diet, but he soon died of hunger. Old…

“Why do you walk so crooked, child?” said an old crab to her young one. “Walk straight!” “Mother,” the young crab replied, “show me the way, and when I see you moving straight ahead, I’ll try to follow.” Old Learning: Actions speak louder than words. New Take Following old ways doesn’t create new things.

On an ill-fated day a mouse made the acquaintance of a frog, and they set off on their travels together! The frog pretended to be very fond of the mouse and invited him to visit the pond in which he lived. To keep his companion out of harm’s way, the frog tied the mouse’s front…