The Scarecrow
Once upon a time, in a fertile valley where the wind whispered sweetly, there was a dazzling field of golden wheat. In the very middle of this field stood a majestic scarecrow with a worn hat upon his head and a warm heart of straw in his chest. The people of the region looked upon him as the invincible guardian of the field because of his frightening appearance, and kept their distance. Yet behind his majestic bearing this lonely scarecrow possessed an exceedingly tender soul that approached every living creature in nature with love. By day he watched the boundless sky, and by night he passed his time quietly listening to the glittering tales of the stars. On a hot summer afternoon, a huge flock of crows left hungry by the drought suddenly covered the sky. The arrogant leader of the flock perched on the wooden shoulder of the scarecrow with a daring air and began to caw.
"O man of wood, step aside at once so that we may fill our bellies with these delicious grains of wheat!" he cried. The scarecrow warned them with a wise smile: "If you plunder this field, the hardworking farmer will go hungry all winter." The leader of the crows paid no heed at all to this warning and lunged greedily at the first fresh ear of grain. Thereupon the scarecrow began to flap his wooden arms with great fury, aided by the strong wind that was blowing. The old metal bells fastened to his garment suddenly rang out, echoed through the valley and frightened the crows. "I shall never permit you to harm this sacred field sown with the sweat of the brow!" roared the scarecrow. Faced with this unshakable will and that majestic voice which rose up, the flock was seized with terror in an instant and drew back.
This resolute stand and the noble heart that the scarecrow displayed awakened a deep admiration in the minds of the hungry crows. The leader of the crows glided down with a bashful air, apologized and promised that they would never harm the crop in the field. The scarecrow too, faced with such sincerity, showed his generosity and agreed to share with them the fallen grains scattered upon the soil. Thus were laid in the valley the foundations of a deep friendship and of a peace that would last for long years. The farmer, when autumn came, gathered the abundance of his field with joy and smiled with gratitude at his faithful scarecrow. A just and resolute attitude is capable of turning even the most merciless enmities into lasting friendships. One good turn deserves another.