Aesop
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Greece

The Cock and The Jewel

A hardworking Cock finds a valuable jewel in the ground but prioritizes his family's survival over its worth, leaving the jewel behind.
Value
Contentment
Wisdom
Aesop's Fables - The Cock and The Jewel
Audio available for B1 version

In a quiet farm, there lived a Cock. He worked day and night, scratching and scraping the ground. He was always on a mission to find food for his family.

One sunny day, as the Cock was scratching and scraping, his feet hit something hard. He looked down and saw a gleaming object buried in the dirt. With a strong flap of his wings, he dusted off the soil and revealed a shiny jewel.

The Cock tilted his head, observing the gem. It was a beautiful thing, shimmering under the sunlight, no doubt lost by someone who once treasured it dearly.

“Aha,” the Cock said, eyeing the jewel. He knew such a precious thing could fetch a great price. The person who had lost it, he thought, would probably give a lot to get it back. But, despite its beauty and value, the jewel was of no use to him.

The Cock looked at the jewel one last time before going back to his task. Even if the jewel was worth a fortune, to him, a single grain of barleycorn held more value. That was the food for his family, the source of their survival. And with that, the Cock returned to his scratching and scraping, leaving the priceless jewel behind.

Once upon a time in a super quiet farm, there was a Cock who was as busy as, well, a very busy bird. He spent all day doing the chicken cha-cha, scratchin' and scrapin' the ground like it was going out of style. "Ah, the glamorous life of a farm animal," he’d chuckle to himself. "But hey, a bird’s gotta eat, right?"

Then, on one particularly sunny day, this Cock felt something under his foot that wasn't squishy like mud or wiggly like a worm. "What's this, a buried treasure?" He gave a powerful flap of his wings, like a superhero taking off, and—voilà!—he uncovered a super-shiny jewel.

Now, this jewel was sparkling like a star in the sky. The Cock tilted his head from side to side, staring at it with fascination. "Wow, someone's missing their bling-bling!"

He knew that the jewel could probably be swapped for lots and lots of goodies. "Someone might trade a mountain of corn for this!" he thought. But then he paused and gave his feathered head a scratch.

"Pretty? Yes. Tasty? No. Can I feed it to the family? Nope!"

He looked at the jewel one more time, then shrugged. "Well, you may be the shiniest thing I've ever seen, but you're no match for a simple grain of barleycorn. That's the stuff that fills our tummies!"

So, like the smart and funny bird he was, the Cock covered the jewel back up with dirt and went back to his main gig—searching for food. Because when it comes down to it, the real treasures aren’t always the ones that sparkle; they’re the simple things that keep you and your family chirpy and happy.

Once on a bustling farm so grand,
A diligent Cock roamed the land.
Scratching here, scraping there,
Seeking food with utmost care.

Sunbeams danced, the day was new,
When his feet struck something blue.
Beneath the dirt, shining so fine,
Lay a jewel with a dazzling shine.

He looked at the gleam, a sight so rare,
A lost treasure from someone, somewhere.
Though it sparkled, bright and nice,
To the Cock, it didn't entice.

While the world may see its worth soar,
To the Cock, a barleycorn meant more.
For gems can't feed or keep kin snug,
So he resumed, with a contented shrug.

Left the jewel where it lay,
And continued his work without delay.
For to him, clear as daylight's beam,
Family's need surpassed a dream.

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Understanding Questions

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Understanding Questions

Reflection Questions

  1. Why do you think the Cock decided not to keep the shiny jewel?
  2. How does the Cock's choice help us understand what is truly valuable to him?
  3. Can you think of a time when something valuable to others didn't seem as important to you?
  4. What does this story teach us about knowing what is really important in our own lives?
  5. Can you give an example of something that is more valuable to you than a shiny jewel, and explain why?

Fable Quotes

The real value of a thing is measured not by its glitter but by its usefulness.
Being content comes not from abundance, but from appreciating the necessary.
What glitters isn't always gold; true wisdom knows where true value lies.
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