THE PROUD SWAN

A swan and an otter are neighbours.They live in a river.The swan is proud of her good eyesight.She can see things that are far away.The otter has small eyes and very poor eyesight.The swan always look down on him.One day,the otter is busy cutting wood at the riverside.He wants to make his home.At the same time,the swan is swimming happily in the river.The swan teases the otter.She says,"With the kind of eyes you have,a hunter can easily catch you.""Iknow you can see far away,"says the otter to the swan,"but can youhear the strange sound far away?"The swan listens carefully."No,"she answers."Try to listen more carefully,"says the otter."No,"says the swan.She does not hear anything strange."I hear something beating the surface of the water,"says the otter.The swan does not believe the otter."You are trying to trick me,"she says."I'm not," says the otter."My ears are as sharp as your eyes.I can hear that the sound is much nearer now."The otter adds "Goodbye, my friend.I have to go now."He then dives into the river and swims away."You ugly animal!"says the swan angrily.She does not like the otter comparing his ears with her own eyes.The swan lifts her long neck and looks around.She dous not see anything strange.She thinks the otter is wrong about the sound.Soon a hunter on a raft comes near the swan.He sees the swan.He quickly shoots the swan.Bang!The swan dies.Her body flouts on the surface of the river.The hunter happily takes it home.

MOREL:We should not be so proud of our good points that we forget our weak ones.