Arthur the Farmer and the Stork
Farmer Arthur wiped a hand across his sweaty brow, looking with worry at his newly sown fields. He had worked since dawn, carefully scattering the precious wheat seeds that were meant to feed his family all winter. But now, a noisy flock of geese and cranes was gobbling up his hard work, pulling his hopes right out of the soil. If they kept on like this, the harvest would be lost, and hunger would be a cruel companion.
Desperate and furious, Arthur spent the afternoon setting traps, hiding snares among the clumps of earth. The next morning, a tangle of flapping wings greeted him. The greedy cranes and geese had been caught. But among them, with one leg tangled, stood a tall, elegant stork.
As Arthur approached, the stork trembled but spoke in a clear, pleading voice: "Mr. Farmer, please, let me go! I have done you no wrong. I have not eaten your seeds like these cranes and geese. On the contrary, I help you! I walk your fields to free them of snakes and vipers that could ruin your crops or bite your livestock. I am your friend, not your enemy. Free me, good man, and I will continue to help you! Do not kill me!"
But Arthur's heart was hardened by anger and fear. He didn't see a friend; he only saw another bird in the company of thieves. His brow furrowed and his voice was as hard as stone.
"That may be true, Stork, but I only see that you were in the company of these thieves as they stole my food. Who can promise me you were not doing the same? If you are so different, why were you happy to be with them? It is said that whoever is found with thieves is a thief themselves. You will share their fate!"
In vain, the stork protested its innocence. The farmer would not listen to reason. And so, the innocent stork, who worked for the good of the fields, met the same unfortunate end as the cranes and geese who worked to destroy them.
Moral Values & Lessons
- Be Mindful of Your Company: Associating with dishonest people can lead to severe consequences, even if you are innocent.
- The Danger of Quick Judgment: Judging someone based only on appearances can lead to terrible injustices.
- Appearances Can Be Deceiving: Just because someone is with a group doesn't mean they share their actions or intentions.
- Actions Have Consequences: The farmer's angry decision led to the death of an innocent creature.
Story Comprehension Questions
Simple Questions
- Why was Farmer Arthur worried at the beginning of the story?
- What did he use to catch the birds?
- Which bird claimed to be innocent?
- What did the stork say it ate to help the farmer?
- In the end, did the farmer let the stork go free?
Critical Thinking Questions
- Do you think the farmer's decision was fair? Why or why not?
- What could the stork have done differently to avoid the situation?
- If you were the farmer, what would you have done after listening to the stork?
Connecting to Your Life
- Have you ever been blamed for something a friend did?
- Why is it important to choose your friends wisely?
- Tell about a time you had to make a difficult decision.
Fun Interactive Activities
- Courtroom Scene: Act out the story. One person is the farmer (the judge), one is the stork (the defendant), and others are the guilty geese. The stork must present its case!
- Draw the Two Scenes: Draw a picture of the stork helping the farmer (by eating a snake) and another of the geese harming the farmer (by eating seeds).
- The Friend Chart: On a piece of paper, create two columns. In one, list the qualities of a good friend. In the other, list behaviors that might get you into trouble.