An Eagle, swooping down on powerful wings, seized
a lamb in her talons and made off with it to her nest. A Jackdaw saw the deed,
and his silly head was filled with the idea that he was big and strong enough
to do as the Eagle had done. So with much rustling of feathers and a fierce
air, he came down swiftly on the back of a large Ram. But when he tried to rise
again he found that he could not get away, for his claws were tangled in the
wool. And so far was he from carrying away the Ram, that the Ram hardly noticed
he was there.
The Shepherd saw the fluttering Jackdaw and at
once guessed what had happened. Running up, he caught the bird and clipped its
wings. That evening he gave the Jackdaw to his children.
"What a funny bird this is!" they said
laughing, "what do you call it, father?"
"That is a Jackdaw, my children. But if you
should ask him, he would say he is an Eagle."
Moral: Do not let
your vanity make you overestimate your powers.
.-------------------------
From: ÆSOP'S FABLES FOR
CHILDREN
33% of the profit from the sale of this book will be donated to CECILY’S FUND, a charity educating and supporting Zambian children orphaned by aids.
