The Farmer and the Stork

A farmer was troubled by a flock of cranes that had discovered his newly sown cornfield. These birds were clever, descending in large numbers to feast upon the tender seeds before they could take root. Determined to save his harvest, the farmer set a large net across the field, hoping to capture the thieves in the act.

Early the next morning, he crept to his field to check the trap. To his surprise, he found the net heavy with movement. He rushed over and discovered a group of cranes tangled in the mesh. As he approached, he heard a strange, plaintive sound. Tucked among the struggling cranes was a solitary stork, its leg caught firmly in the ropes. The farmer reached down, intending to free the birds, but the stork began to cry out piteously. 'Oh, kind sir,' the stork pleaded, 'I beg you, let me go! I am not a crane. I am a bird of peace and virtue. Look at me—I have no desire to eat your corn. I am a stork, known for my devotion to my parents and my gentle nature. Surely you would not punish an innocent bird for the crimes of others?'

the farmer paused, looking at the bird with a furrowed brow. He admired the bird's eloquence and its claims of nobility. 'Your words are fair,' the farmer replied, 'and I believe you when you say you are a stork of good character. However, there is one thing you have overlooked. I caught you in the company of the thieves. You were feasting on my crops alongside those who stole my livelihood. If you choose to walk with those who do wrong, you must be prepared to share in their punishment.'

With a heavy heart but a firm hand, the farmer proceeded to deal with the flock, the stork meeting the same fate as the cranes. The field fell silent once more, save for the rustling of the wind through the stalks. The farmer went back to his work, knowing that true character is revealed not just by what one says, but by the company one chooses to keep.