A linnet in a cage, hooked to an open window, sang during the night. A curious bat heard his voice from afar and flew near him, asking him why he chose to keep quiet during sunlight and sing only at night. The linnet said: “I am not without a reason. I make use of the night to do my singing because it was by singing during the day that I was capture. So since then I have grown wiser.” The bat was a tad annoyed and retorted: “It is a bit late now to be so much on your guard. It seems absolutely pointless. You should have thought of that before you were caught.” The moral of the story is, when misfortune has come, regrets are useless. To think before we speak and act is a step closer to wisdom.
Here are a few questions to share with your child:
1. Did the linnet actually become wiser? Why so?
2. Why must we think before we speak or act?
Vocabulary
Linnet: A mainly brown and grey finch with a reddish breast and forehead Curious:
Eager to know or learn something
Tad: To a small extent; somewhat
Annoyed: Slightly angry; irritated