The Mole
Long ago a small mole lived under a damp forest full of bright flowers. This tiny mole was blind from birth, but he was very proud. He spent peaceful days with his mother inside the dark tunnels. But he always claimed that his eyes could see very well. His mother listened to those sweet lies with patience and smiled. One sunny morning the little mole began to boast again.
He turned to his mother and said, "I see the soil and even the birds in the sky." He even said that he knew everything without smell or hearing. The wise mother mole wanted to teach her child a good lesson. She pulled a small piece of fragrant pine resin out of the earth. She put the resin in front of his nose and asked, "Tell me, what is this?" The little mole smelled the resin, but he did not understand it.
With great confidence he answered, "This is surely a hard stone." His mother sighed deeply and hugged her child with love. "Oh my sweet child, you did not only lose your eyes," she said. "You also lost your sense of smell," she added. The little mole felt very ashamed and bowed his head. He finally understood how wrong it is to act like someone else. Nobody should boast about things he cannot do, and everyone should stay honest. Lies have short legs, and the truth always catches up.