5 online short stories for kids (free to read) on 1. Once a Wolf, Always a Wolf 2. The Farmer and His Sons 3. The Goose and the Golden Egg 4. The Goatherd and the Wild Goats 5. Three Bullocks and a Lion
1. Once a Wolf, Always a Wolf
A Wolf had been prowling around a flock of Sheep for a long time and the Shepherd watched very anxiously to prevent him from carrying off a Lamb. But the Wolf did not try to do any harm. Instead he seemed to be helping the Shepherd take care of the Sheep. At last the Shepherd got so used to seeing the Wolf near about that he forgot how wicked he could be.
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One day he even went so far as to leave his flock in the Wolfs care while he went on an errand. But when he came back and saw how so many of the flock had been killed and carried off, he knew how foolish it was to trust a Wolf.
Once a wolf, always a wolf.
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2. The Farmer and His Sons
A rich old farmer, who felt that he had not many more days to live, called his sons to his bedside.
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“My sons,” he said, “heed what I have to say to you. Do not on any account part with the estate that has belonged to our family for so many generations. Somewhere in it is hidden a rich treasure. I do not know the exact spot, but it is there, and you will surely find it. Spare no energy and leave no spot unturned in your search.”
The father died, and no sooner was he in his grave than the sons set to work digging with all their might, turning up every foot of ground with their spades and going over the whole farm two or three times.
No hidden gold did they find; but at harvest time when they had settled their accounts and had pocketed a rich profit far greater than that of any of their neighbors, they understood that the treasure their father had told them about was the wealth of a bountiful crop, and that in their industry had they found the treasure.
3. The Goose and the Golden Egg
There was once a Countryman who possessed the most wonderful Goose you can imagine, for everyday when he visited the nest, the Goose had laid a beautiful, glittering golden egg.
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The Countryman took the eggs to market and soon began to get rich. But it was not long before he grew impatient with the Goose because she gave him only a single golden egg a day. He was not getting rich fast enough.
Then one day, after he had finished counting his money, the idea came to him that he could get all the golden eggs at once by killing the Goose and cutting it open. But when the deed was done, not a single golden egg did he find and his precious Goose was dead.
Those who have plenty want more and so lose all they have.
4. The Goatherd and the Wild Goats
One cold stormy day a Goatherd drove his Goats for shelter into a cave, where a number of Wild Goats had also found their way. The Shepherd wanted to make the Wild Goats part of his flock. So he fed them well. But to his own flock, he gave only just enough food to keep them alive. When the weather cleared and the Shepherd led the Goats out to feed, the Wild Goats scampered off to the hills.
“Is that the thanks I get for feeding you and treating you so well?” complained the Shepherd.
“Do not expect us to join your flock,” replied one of the Wild Goats. “We know how you would treat us later on, if some strangers should come as we did.”
It is unwise to treat old friends badly for the sake of new ones.
5. Three Bullocks and a Lion
A Lion had been watching three Bullocks feeding in an open field. He had tried to attack them several times, but they had kept together and helped each other to drive him off. The Lion had little hope of eating them, for he was no match for three strong Bullocks with their sharp horns and hoofs. But he could not keep away from that field, for it is hard to resist watching a good meal, even when there is little chance of getting it.
Then one day the Bullocks had a quarrel and when the hungry Lion came to look at them and lick his chops as he was accustomed to do, he found them in separate corners of the field, as far away from one another as they could get.
It was now an easy matter for the Lion to attack them one at a time, and this he proceeded to do with the greatest satisfaction and relish.
In unity is strength.