Aesop's Fables

the fox and_the stork

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 .'