Aesop
|
Greece

The Hen and The Swallow

A kind Hen warms the enemy's eggs in a snake's hole, while a Swallow warns her about the dangers of her kindness.
Kindness
Caution
Acceptance
Featured in Fable Book
Aesop's Fables - The Hen and The Swallow
Audio available for B1 version

In an old, deserted snake's hole, a Hen made her home. She was keeping some eggs warm, not her own, but those she had found in the hole.

One day, a Swallow, fluttering in the sky, saw the Hen. She swooped down, perched near, and curiously asked, "Why are you warming the eggs of a fierce foe?"

The Hen replied, "I found them here, alone and cold. No creature deserves to be left alone, not even a foe's child."

The Swallow nodded, spreading her wings and preparing to take flight again. "Just remember, not all creatures think as kindly as you."

With that, she soared into the sky, leaving the Hen to her task.

Once upon a time, in an old, empty hole where a snake used to live, a Hen found a cozy spot to make her home. She discovered some eggs there, not her own, but she decided to keep them warm.

One sunny day, a Swallow was flying high in the sky. She noticed the Hen in the hole and became curious. She flew down, landed nearby, and asked, "Why are you warming the eggs of a dangerous snake?"

The Hen looked at the Swallow and said, "I found these eggs all alone and cold. No baby, even a snake's, should be left alone."

The Swallow thought for a moment, then spread her wings to fly again. She said, "That's very kind of you, but be careful. Not everyone is as kind as you."

With that, the Swallow flew away into the blue sky, leaving the Hen to take care of the eggs.

Once upon a time, in an old, empty hole where a snake used to live, a Hen found a cozy spot to make her home. She discovered some eggs there, not her own, but she decided to keep them warm.

One sunny day, a Swallow was flying high in the sky. She noticed the Hen in the hole and became curious. She flew down, landed nearby, and asked, "Why are you warming the eggs of a dangerous snake?"

The Hen looked at the Swallow and said, "I found these eggs all alone and cold. No baby, even a snake's, should be left alone."

The Swallow thought for a moment, then spread her wings to fly again. She said, "That's very kind of you, but be careful. Not everyone is as kind as you."

With that, the Swallow flew away into the blue sky, leaving the Hen to take care of the eggs.

Once upon a sunny day, in a snake hole that was yesterday's news, a plucky Hen found a comfy nook. Under her were some surprise eggs. They weren't from her last Easter hunt, but she thought, "Why let them get cold?"

As she settled in, dreaming about what might hatch, a Swallow, doing her aerial acrobatics, spotted the scene below. Intrigued, she swooped down, landing with flair. "Hey there, feathered friend! You do know you're babysitting a snake's potential kiddos, right?" she asked, with a teasing glint in her eye.

The Hen, without missing a beat, said, "Well, when I got here, these little ones were like lonely marshmallows waiting for a campfire. Everyone, and I mean everyone, deserves a bit of warmth and love. Even if they might grow up to do the snakey slide."

The Swallow laughed heartily, her laughter echoing around them. "You sure have a big heart, Ms. Hen. But always remember, not all critters see the world with your kind of rose-colored glasses."

Shaking her tail feathers in mock seriousness, the Swallow added, "You might want to keep an ear out for any hissing concerts!"

With that, she performed a graceful loop in the sky, sending a playful wink down at the Hen, who was now humming a lullaby for her unexpected brood.

Once, a Hen found a cozy nook,
Where eggs lay, with a deserted look.
Not hers, but she didn't care,
She sat and warmed them with a motherly air.

High above, a Swallow did glide,
Spotting the Hen, she took a swift dive.
"Why sit on the eggs of a foe so sly?"
She chirped, as the clouds rolled by.

The Hen clucked softly, without any pride,
Her voice so mild, her heart open wide.
"No creature should be left behind, as if exiled,
Even those of a foe, or its very child."

The Swallow stretched her wings to depart,
Yet, her words were sincere, straight from the heart:
"Just remember, dear Hen, with your heart so true,
Not everyone thinks as kindly as you."

The Swallow prepared, her farewell due,
Wings spread wide, against the sky so blue.
With a gust, upwards she drew,
Leaving the Hen, and the world she knew.

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Word Finder

  1. Cozy

    Warm, comfortable, and pleasant to rest in.

  2. Discovered

    Found something that was hidden or unknown before.

  3. Dangerous

    Likely to cause harm, injury, or danger.

  4. Curious

    Wanting to know or learn something new.

  5. Nearby

    Close to or not far from a place.

  6. Warming

    Making something warmer or keeping it warm.

  7. Alone

    Without anyone else or by oneself.

  8. Careful

    Paying close attention to avoid danger or mistakes.

  9. Spread

    Opened something out over a large area.

  10. Kind

    Being friendly, generous, and caring towards others.

Understanding Questions

  1. Where did the Hen decide to make her home?
  2. What did the Hen find in the hole, and what did she decide to do with it?
  3. Who noticed the Hen warming the eggs and became curious?
  4. What question did the Swallow ask the Hen?
  5. What advice did the Swallow give the Hen before flying away?
Word Finder
  1. Cozy

    Warm, comfortable, and pleasant to rest in.

  2. Discovered

    Found something that was hidden or unknown before.

  3. Dangerous

    Likely to cause harm, injury, or danger.

  4. Curious

    Wanting to know or learn something new.

  5. Nearby

    Close to or not far from a place.

  6. Warming

    Making something warmer or keeping it warm.

  7. Alone

    Without anyone else or by oneself.

  8. Careful

    Paying close attention to avoid danger or mistakes.

  9. Spread

    Opened something out over a large area.

  10. Kind

    Being friendly, generous, and caring towards others.

Understanding Questions

    Where did the Hen decide to make her home?

    1. In a hole
    2. In a tree
    3. In a barn
    4. On a farm
  1. What did the Hen find in the hole, and what did she decide to do with it?

    1. Eggs, to leave them
    2. Seeds, to eat them
    3. Water, to drink it
    4. Rocks, to build a nest
  2. Who noticed the Hen warming the eggs and became curious?

    1. A Duck
    2. A Swallow
    3. A Cat
    4. A Dog
  3. What question did the Swallow ask the Hen?

    1. Why are you here?
    2. What are you doing?
    3. Where are your friends?
    4. How many eggs do you have?
  4. What advice did the Swallow give the Hen before flying away?

    1. To stay safe
    2. To not trust others
    3. To find food
    4. To keep the eggs warm
  1. Where did the Hen decide to make her home?
  2. What did the Hen find in the hole, and what did she decide to do with it?
  3. Who noticed the Hen warming the eggs and became curious?
  4. What question did the Swallow ask the Hen?
  5. What advice did the Swallow give the Hen before flying away?
    Reflection Questions
    1. Why do you think the Hen chose to warm the eggs she found, even though they belonged to a foe?
    2. What do you think the Swallow meant when she said, "Not all creatures think as kindly as you"?
    3. Can you think of a time when you've helped someone, even though they might not have been nice to you?
    4. What lesson does this story teach us about kindness and compassion?
    5. How can we apply the lesson from this story in our own lives to treat others kindly, regardless of who they are?
    Fable Quotes
    Kindness knows no boundaries, embracing even the offspring of foes with warmth and compassion.
    Always remember, kindness may not always be met with kindness.
    Accepting others, no matter how different, is a strength not all possess.
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