Story "The Farmer and the Stork"

The Farmer and the Stork

The Farmer placed nets on his newly planted fields. In them he caught a number of Cranes, which came to pick up his seed. One day he trapped a Stork that had broken his leg in the net. The Stork begged the Farmer to spare his life. "Please, save me," he said, "and let me go free. I have a broken leg, and besides, I am no Crane, I am a Stork. I am a bird of excellent character. Look too, at my feathers. They don't look at all like those of a Crane." The Farmer laughed aloud and said, "It may be as you say, but I only know this. I caught you along with a bunch of robbers. You are just as guilty as they are, and you must die like them."

Birds of a feather flock together.