The Fox Without a Tail

Short Version

Once there was a fox. One day, he was walking across a field. Suddenly, he fell into a trap. He tried hard to get out. At last, he became free, but he lost his tail.

The fox felt very ashamed. He did not want the other foxes to laugh at him. So, he made a plan.

When he met the other foxes, he said, “A tail is not useful. It is heavy and ugly. I cut off my tail. You should cut off your tails too.”

Some foxes believed him and wanted to do the same. But an old and wise fox understood the truth. He said, “You did not cut off your tail. You lost it in a trap.”

The fox felt ashamed again. He said nothing and quickly ran away.

Moral: False words cannot hide the truth.

Expanded Version

Once a fox was walking across a field. Suddenly, he stepped into a trap. He pulled and struggled for a long time. At last, he managed to escape, but his tail was caught in the trap and torn off.

The fox was free, but he felt very ashamed. He knew that other foxes had beautiful tails, and he was afraid they would laugh at him. He began to think of a way to hide his embarrassment.

When he returned to the forest, the other foxes saw that he had no tail. They gathered around him and asked, “What happened to your tail?”

The fox did not want to tell the truth. He said, “I cut it off myself. A tail is only extra weight. It is ugly and useless. I feel much better without it. You should all cut off your tails too.”

Some young foxes listened to him and began to think that his idea might be good.

Then an old and wise fox stepped forward. He said, “Do not listen to him. He did not cut off his tail because he wanted to. He lost it in a trap. Now he wants all of us to look like him.”

The other foxes understood the truth. The tailless fox became ashamed. He said nothing and quickly ran away.

Moral: False words cannot hide the truth.