The Swallow and the Crow
燕子與烏鴉
A swallow teases a crow for his plain feathers, boasting of her own glossy looks — until a hard winter shows which one's feathers truly served her well.
The story
Spring came, and new grass pushed up through the fields while the air smelled of fresh leaves and blossoms. A swallow perched beneath the eaves, shaking out her smooth, glossy feathers, her scissor-shaped tail flashing blue-black in the sunlight. The neighborhood birds could not help glancing up at her, and she felt quite pleased with herself.
Not far away, on an old tree branch, sat a crow. His feathers were plain black, nothing that caught the eye, and he simply preened his wings quietly, paying no attention to anyone.
The swallow flew over and landed beside him, unable to resist a little boasting. "Just look at my feathers," she said. "So light and lovely! The moment the sun comes out and I take to the sky, everyone turns to admire me."
The crow did not grow angry. He only folded his wings a little closer and said slowly, "Your feathers are lovely in spring, it's true. But when the north wind blows and frost settles on the roofs, will they keep you warm?" The swallow had no answer.
Before long, the days truly grew colder. The swallow folded her light wings early and flew off to warmer lands, leaving the eaves empty behind her. The crow had nowhere to go. He stayed on the old tree, fluffing his thick black feathers, and faced the cold wind day after day.
That winter turned especially harsh. Snow fell again and again until the old branches wore a coat of frost. All the other birds had long since vanished, but the crow still perched there, neck tucked low, feathers puffed out, weathering one bitter storm after another.
When spring came round again and the snow slowly melted, the swallow returned on the warm wind. The moment she saw the crow still standing on the very same branch, she stopped and said warmly, "This winter, I owe a lot to those plain feathers of yours." The crow only gave his wings a small flap, smiled, and said nothing more.
Story takeaway
A beautiful appearance may be admired in easy times, but it is often the plain, steady kind of strength that carries someone through the hardest days.
Talk together
Is there something of yours that looks plain but turns out to be especially useful when you really need it?
For grown-ups
Parent note
A good story for a child who likes comparing whose things are prettier or more impressive. The swallow isn't unkind — she simply hasn't yet faced a winter that tests her feathers; the crow isn't trying to spoil her fun, he's just looking at the whole year before deciding what's truly useful. It's a nice chance to talk about how "pretty" and "useful" aren't always the same thing, and how some strengths only show themselves when times get hard — being plain doesn't mean being unimportant.
Words to learn
- plain: simple, not fancy or flashy. e.g. The crow's feathers looked plain next to the swallow's.
- proud: feeling pleased with yourself because you did or have something good. e.g. The swallow felt proud when everyone admired her.
- sturdy: strong and reliable, able to really do the job. e.g. The crow's sturdy feathers carried him through the whole winter.
Reading activity
Play a quick "pretty or useful" game with your child — read a few lines and see which ones sound more like the swallow's feathers (pretty) and which sound more like the crow's (useful): "This jacket has such a lovely color, but it soaks through in the rain." → more like the swallow's feathers — pretty, not always useful. "These shoes look plain, but they never rub your feet no matter how far you walk." → more like the crow's feathers — plain but sturdy. "This umbrella is Mom's favorite pattern, and it never breaks even in the wind." → this one has both! Finish by wondering together: which kind would you rather have?
Source information
Aesop · Project Gutenberg public-domain fables
Public-domain fables and short tales from Project Gutenberg.
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