The Wolf and the Crane

A greedy wolf gobbled his food so fast that a large bone got painfully stuck in his throat. He howled and rolled about, begging every animal that passed by in the forest for help.

A long-necked crane flying by saw him and stopped. The wolf begged her to pull the bone from his throat, promising a great reward in return.

The crane carefully lowered her head into the wolf's mouth and used her long beak to pull the bone free. The wolf felt such relief that he forgot the pain entirely.

When the crane asked for the reward she'd been promised, the wolf just laughed and sneered, saying she should count herself lucky to have pulled her head out of a wolf's mouth without being bitten — no reward needed.

The crane flew away sadly, disappointed. But she learned that helping someone who doesn't know gratitude means you must be more careful the next time.

Helping someone who doesn't know gratitude may bring no thanks, but we should still do good with a pure heart — and be more careful the next time.