Once, in a pond of a jungle, there lived three frog friends but they were jealous of one another. They daily sat on the bank of the pond and set up a chorus of croaking. The first frog bragged, “I am the chief of the pond.” The second one also said the same, followed by the third one. While they were trying to outdo one another, a big crane came along. He picked up the first frog in his beak. But as he was about to gobble the frog, he saw a small water snake at his feet. The crane grabbed the snake instead. The frog escaped as fast as he could. The next day, the crane went to eat the second frog.
At the last moment, he saw a mink that was hoping to catch him and the crane quickly flew away to the farthest bank. The second frog was saved but he never croaked again. He quietly returned to the pond. The next day, the crane caught hold of the third frog’s leg and was going to gulp him when a fox chanced to come there and chased the crane. The crane had to let go off the frog. The third frog quickly hopped away to safety. The three frogs had a narrow escape. They had also learnt an important lesson, never to brag.
