The Toad and the Green Frog
Once upon a time, beside a clear pond where emerald green reeds whispered, there lived two friends. One was the lovely Green Frog who carried the colour of the sky on its back, and the other was the grave Black Toad who symbolized the patience of the earth. The Green Frog glided like a swan over the water lily leaves and enchanted those around it with its graceful leaps. The Black Toad, however, with its rough skin and its clumsy steps, always stayed in the shade and watched this talent of its friend with envy. On a hot summer afternoon, the surface of the still water was gleaming almost like a golden mirror. While the Green Frog was joyfully jumping to the opposite bank of the river, it could not help teasing its friend.
"Why do you keep hiding among the mud, when you could glide freely like me?" it called out. The Black Toad sighed and said: "My body is heavy, I cannot rise lightly and dive into the waters like you." The Black Toad, unable to bear the insistence of its friend, climbed to the top of the high rock that stood at the deepest place of the river. It took a deep breath and let itself into the embrace of the rushing waters, but the current began to swallow it swiftly. The light Green Frog could not withstand the strong waves, and flailing helplessly at the shore, was crying out for help. At that moment the Black Toad, which was used to walking on land, held on to the rocks at the bottom with its thick skin and its strong feet.
With a great effort it managed to catch its dragged friend and to pull it toward the safe muddy shore. When they came out on the shore, the Green Frog was trembling with fear and looking at its rescuer with admiration. "If it were not for that heavy body of yours that you dislike and for your strong grip, we would both have perished now," it said in a whisper. For the first time the Black Toad felt deeply the worth of its own being and of its nature bound to the earth. It had understood that every living creature has a unique place in this universe with its own beauty and its own talent. From that day on the two friends went on living in peace, feeling a deep respect for the differences of the other. Everyone is precious with the unique virtues that their own nature offers. The crow wanted to walk like the partridge and forgot its own walk.