The Crow and Her Young
Once upon a time, on the shore of a deep blue sea whose end could not be seen, an old crow lived on top of the lofty cliffs. This experienced crow braved the stormy winds and tenderly raised her three lovely chicks until they could fly. One day, a merciless fire rising from the valley began to threaten their nest. The mother crow had to carry her chicks one by one to the safe grove on the opposite shore. Among the lightning flashing on the horizon and the rising smoke, a hard journey was waiting for them. First she gripped her eldest chick with her strong claws and rose into the air over the raging waters. When they reached the middle of the huge sea, the mother crow asked her chick a testing question.
"When I grow old and helpless, will you carry me just as I am carrying you now?" The eldest chick, in fear for his life, answered at once, "Of course, dear mother, I will carry you on my back all my life." The mother crow did not believe this false word, let her chick go and punished the lie. She flew back, took up her middle chick and again, over the fierce waves, asked him the same question. The middle chick also flattered her with sweet words, thinking he would trick his mother, and made similar promises. The mother, who smelled the lie at once, did not hesitate to drop him too into the lap of the deep waters. At last she took on her back the youngest chick, who had stayed in the nest, and rose again into the stormy sky.
In the middle of the sea she asked the same hard question to her youngest chick as well. The honest chick said without hesitating, "No, dear mother, by then I will be busy feeding and raising my own chicks." At this sincere and true answer, the heart of the mother crow filled with a deep peace. She gripped tightly the chick who had spoken the truth with courage and brought him to the safe opposite shore, to the green grove. So honesty and truthfulness won once more above the stormy sea. Lying promises bring disaster; honesty saves life, even when it is bitter. Lies have short legs.