The Swallow and the Crow
Long ago two very different birds lived in a beautiful garden full of flowers. One was a small swallow with fine and elegant feathers. The other was a clever crow with black and strong feathers. On sunny days the swallow flew happily and was proud of her beauty. The crow sat quietly on a branch and watched everything with care. One day the swallow landed beside the crow and showed her shiny feathers.
The swallow said proudly, "My feathers are the finest jewel of spring." "But your black feathers look very dark and ugly." The crow was not angry at these words and smiled a little. The crow answered, "Your feathers look pretty in summer." "But my thick feathers protect me on cold winter days." The swallow did not listen to the crow and went on singing happily.
A few months later the warm summer ended and a freezing winter came. Hard winds blew and white snow covered the whole garden. The elegant swallow began to shake with cold and could hardly fly. The crow sat calmly in her warm nest thanks to her thick black feathers. The swallow sadly understood that beauty alone is not enough in hard days. The true value that protects us on hard days is far more precious than a passing ornament. One pimple is enough to destroy beauty, and one spark is enough to burn riches.