The Cricket and the Fox
Long ago, a huge oak forest grew beyond green valleys. In this forest lived a little cricket who sang sweetly. On hot summer days he sang joyfully on a branch. The forest flowers and the wind loved his sweet voice. But a sly, hungry fox also walked in this forest. One day the fox heard the song and came running.
The sly fox looked up and called the cricket sweetly. "Hello, dear friend, what a wonderful song!" he said. "Please come down so I can hear you better," he added. The clever cricket understood everything and did not trust him. He felt danger, but he did not show it. He pulled a dry leaf and slowly dropped it down.
The fox thought it was the cricket and jumped quickly. He found only a dry leaf and was very surprised. High on the branch, the cricket sang happily and safely. "You cannot trick me, fox. I know your traps!" he said. The fox felt ashamed and left with an empty stomach. Wise people never trust sweet words and keep themselves safe. Once bitten, twice shy.