THE WOLF AND THE CRANE
(Once a wolf was eating his supper.
He was hungry and he ate very fast.
He ate so fast that he swallowed a bone.
A crane was going by.
The wolf called to the crane.)
Wolf. My dear crane, come, help me. I have a bone in my throat.
Crane. What do you want me to do?
Wolf. Put your bill down my throat and pull out the bone.
Crane. You will bite off my head.
Wolf. O, no, I will not. I will pay you well.
(The crane came and put his head into the wolf's mouth.
Then he ran his long bill down the wolf's throat and so pulled out the bone.)
Crane. There, Brother Wolf, there is the bone. Now give me my pay.
Wolf. You have had your pay.
Crane. No, I have not.
Wolf. You have had your head in the mouth of a wolf, you have pulled it out, and your life is saved. What more can you ask?
Crane. After this, I will keep away from a wolf.