The Fox and the Grapes

A very hungry fox was walking beside a garden when she noticed a grape plant growing over a wooden frame. Several groups of black grapes hung from it. They were ready to eat and looked full of juice.

The fox stopped and looked up. She had been searching for food for a long time, and now a fine meal seemed to be right above her head.

"Those grapes will be just what I need," she said.

She stood on her back legs and stretched as far as she could, but the grapes were too high. Then she jumped, hoping to catch the lowest group in her mouth. Her teeth closed on nothing but air.

The fox stepped back and tried again. This time, she ran towards the plant before jumping. She jumped a little higher, but she still could not reach the fruit.

She moved to the other side of the wooden frame, hoping the grapes would be easier to reach from there. After looking carefully for a lower group, she jumped several more times. Each attempt ended in the same way: the grapes stayed above her, untouched.

At last, her legs felt weak, and she was breathing hard. Despite all her efforts, she was still hungry and deeply disappointed.

Yet the fox did not want to admit that she had failed. She turned her head away and lifted her nose.

"Those grapes are sour," she said."They are not ready to eat after all. They would not make a good meal."

Then she walked away, leaving the sweet-looking black grapes hanging where they had been, still ready to eat.

It is easy to say that something is not worth having when we cannot get it.