Today, we’re sharing a classic story from Grimm’s Fairy Tales – The Fox and the Horse. It’s a story of wisdom, friendship and perseverance, and it shows us that even in the most difficult times, we can overcome seemingly impossible challenges if we use our wits and rely on the help of our friends.
Chapter 1: The Old Abandoned Horse
Once upon a time, there was an aged horse that used to work hard for its master all its life. However, as it grew older, its strength gradually declined and it could no longer pull a cart or plow a field as it had done when it was young. The owner became more and more dissatisfied with the old horse and not only stopped giving him food, but also decided to throw him out of the house.
The poor old horse begged, “Master, please don’t kick me out for I have worked hard for you all my life!”
But the master replied with a sneer, “I won’t let you stay unless you can defeat a lion and tie it to me.”
The old horse knew that this was simply an excuse used by his master to get rid of him. Even when it was young and strong, it had never had the ability to defeat a lion, let alone now. It could only sigh helplessly and drag its tired body out of the house and into the nearby forest.
Chapter 2: Encountering the Clever Fox
In the forest, the old horse met its good friend, a witty fox. Seeing the old horse hanging his head, the fox asked with concern, “My friend, what’s wrong with you? Why are you so sad?”
The old horse told the fox what had happened to him and said, “My master asked me to defeat the lion, but this is a task that is simply impossible! I really don’t know what to do.”
The fox was very angry when he heard this and said, “Your master is so unreasonable! Don’t worry, I will help you solve this problem. Now you do as I say, first lie down and play dead.”
Although the old horse didn’t quite understand the fox’s plan, he was sure that his clever friend would have a solution, so he obediently did as he was told.
Chapter 3: The Fox’s Brilliant Plan
The fox immediately ran to the lion’s den and said to the lion, “Honorable king, I have good news for you! Just now I found a dead horse lying in the forest, which is your favorite delicious lunch. If you will come with me, I can lead the way.”
The lion looked at the fox half-heartedly and asked, “Would you really be so kind?”
The fox patted his chest and replied, “Of course! Because you are the king of all beasts!”
Although still a little skeptical, but the lion followed the fox to the old horse “death” place. Sure enough, it saw a horse lying quietly on the ground, seemingly no signs of life.
Just when the lion was ready to pounce on the meal, the fox suddenly stopped it, said: “King, wait a minute! If you eat here, some other lions or tigers may smell the scent and rush to snatch your food. Why don’t you let me tie this horse to your tail so you can safely drag it home and enjoy it slowly.”
Feeling that the fox’s words made sense, the lion lay back in peace and let the fox get to work tying the rope.
Chapter 4: The Fox’s Trickery Succeeds
However, the fox did not do what the lion asked. It quickly tied the lion’s four legs securely together with the rope instead of tying the horse to the lion’s tail. By the time the lion realized it had been tricked, it was too late. It roared angrily and struggled desperately, but it could not break free from the rope.
At that moment, the old horse jumped up from the ground and said happily to the fox, “Thank you, my clever friend!”
Chapter 5: Returning Victorious
The old horse pulled the bound lion back to his master’s house. He stood in the doorway and shouted, “Master, I have defeated the lion and tied it up to meet you. Now, keep your promise and let me stay!”
The master was amazed at the sight. The surrounding neighbors urged, “This horse has done so much for us in the past, we should let him live in peace.”
The owner recalled the old horse’s past contributions and felt very ashamed. With a red face, he said to the old horse, “Well, you can stay, and I will take good care of you, so that you will be well-fed, well-housed, and live out the rest of your life in peace.”
The old horse nodded gratefully, then looked back into the distant woods and realized that the fox was hiding behind a tree and peeking in. The old horse expressed his deep gratitude to the fox with his eyes.
Lessons for Children
Through this story, we can learn the following important points:
- Wisdom is more important than strength
Although the old horse was too weak to defeat the lion by his own strength, through the fox’s wisdom, he succeeded in his mission. This shows that sometimes brute force is not needed to solve problems, but brains are needed. - The Importance of Friends
In a difficult situation, the old horse was helped by the fox. Without the fox’s support, it might never have been able to accomplish the difficult task. Therefore, it is very important to cherish friends and learn to help each other. - Stay the course
Although the old horse faced great difficulties, it did not give up, but chose to believe in its friends and cooperate in its actions. This perseverance eventually led to a happy outcome. - Gratitude and Reflection
After hearing everyone’s persuasion, the master realized his mistake and corrected his attitude towards the old horse. This reminds us that we should learn to be grateful to those who have helped us in life, and at the same time be brave enough to admit our mistakes.
Summary
The Fox and the Horse is a story full of wisdom and warmth. It not only shows the friendship between animals, but also conveys many valuable philosophies of life. I hope every reader can draw inspiration from it and learn to face challenges with wisdom, treat friends with sincerity and embrace life with gratitude!
Remember, no matter how big the difficulties are, as long as you are good at thinking and seeking help, you can always find a way to solve the problems!
