13. The
Assertive Tortoise and the Conceited Hare
Once, a tortoise met a
hare who scornfully remarked, “How slowly you move!” This remark seemed to
agitate him to take an audacious decision. The tortoise said, “Let's have a
race and see who is the faster.” The hare contemptuously laughed and said he would
reach the other side of the hill first. Off he ran, leaving the tortoise far
behind.
After a while, the hare
stopped to wait for the tortoise to come long. He waited and waited till he
felt sleepy and decided to take a nap. He dozed under a shady tree and closed
his eyes envisaging, 'Even if he would catch me, I can easily win the race’.
The tortoise continued the race slowly but steadily and passed the sleeping
hare. By the time the hare woke up and ran as fast as he could, the tortoise
had become the winner.
Moral: Confidence is good but
overconfidence may defeat you.
TAGS: language development in children, Inspirational Moral Stories, very short stories with morals, stories to read for kids.