English Stories
Morals for kids – Aesop’s Fables – The Oak And The Reeds.
It is better to bend than to break.
NARRATOR:
One autumn day, angry storm clouds rumbled overhead threatening the forest and gentle stream with its wild winds.
OAK (Boldly in a loud belligerent voice): I am the king of the forest, tallest and strongest of all the inhabitants. I can stand up against any wild wind this little storm throws at me!
REEDS (Quietly but confidently): We are slim and pliable. We don’t need to fight the wild winds. We can bend and sway!
NARRATOR:
As the storm raged on, the terrible winds became more and more powerful, building to hurricane force!
OAK(Leaning into the wind, shouting over the roar): I’m strong and mighty. I won’t bend!
I can resist the force of these terrible winds! Oak falls to the ground.
NARRATOR:
Suddenly, with an ear-splitting crack, the haughty oak splashed into the stream between the waving reeds.
REEDS: Oh no, look! The king of the forest has been snapped like a twig! He’s been toppled by the power of those awful winds.
OAK(Weakly from his prone position): You are still standing. Here I lie broken and disgraced.
(Wailing) Why, oh why, should this happen to me?
REED 1: You are too proud, Mister Oak.
REED 2: You fight too much against the mightier winds.
REED 3: Now you lie ruined at our feet.
REED 4: We know that it is not possible to withstand such forces so we sway and bend before the slightest breeze.
REED 1: This way we remain standing.
Moral:
It is better to bend than to break.
