A Fox after crossing a river got its tail entangled in a bush, and could
not move. A number of Mosquitoes seeing its plight settled upon it and
enjoyed a good meal undisturbed by its tail.
A Hedgehog strolling by took pity upon the Fox and went up to him: "You are in a bad way, neighbour," said the Hedgehog; "shall I relieve you by driving off those Mosquitoes who are sucking your blood?"
"Thank you, Master Hedgehog," said the Fox, "but I would rather not."
"Why, how is that?" asked the hedgehog.
"Well, you see," was the answer, "these Mosquitoes have had their fill; if you drive these away, others will come with fresh appetite and bleed me to death."
A Hedgehog strolling by took pity upon the Fox and went up to him: "You are in a bad way, neighbour," said the Hedgehog; "shall I relieve you by driving off those Mosquitoes who are sucking your blood?"
"Thank you, Master Hedgehog," said the Fox, "but I would rather not."
"Why, how is that?" asked the hedgehog.
"Well, you see," was the answer, "these Mosquitoes have had their fill; if you drive these away, others will come with fresh appetite and bleed me to death."
(Aesop's Fables)
The Samaritan Hedgehog
There was a Fox journeying through the forest. The Fox was minding his own business when suddenly a swarm of mosquitoes flew towards him and attacked him. The Fox, caught off guard, was not able to defend himself from the surprise attack. The mosquitoes mercilessly left the Fox in the middle of the Forest. The Fox was in so much pain; he could not move. He laid on the ground hopping that a Good Samaritan would pass by and help him.
Hours had past and still no sight of anyone to aid the Fox. Eventually though, an owl emerged. The owl, flying above, saw the unfortunate Fox laying on the ground and said, "Perhaps if I was not in hurry and had things to do, I would help this poor creature." The owl looked at the hurt Fox with pity and went on his way without helping the Fox.
After a while a, the Fox heard a stirring in the forest. There was a rabbit. The rabbit looked like he was late for something. He kept on yelling "I'm late! I'm late! I'm late!" The rabbit saw the Fox but thought nothing of it. He was too busy worrying about be late.
As Nightfall begin to near, the Fox became fearful. He was certain that if no one came to help him soon, he would not survive for wolves like to prey or hunt during the night. If the wolves do not get him the freezing night will get him. The Fox begin to lose hope.
As the Fox was thinking of this, a hedgehog came upon him. The Hedgehog looked like he was in a hurry as well. Like the Fox, the Hedgehog was worried about nightfall. He needed to get home as soon as possible before the wolves come out. Despite it being near nightfall and dangerous being out and about, the Hedgehog took pity on the Fox and stopped to help him.
The Hedgehog helped him walk to safety, fed him, and cared for him until he healed. The Fox was finally able to leave the care of the Hedgehog and be out on his own. Before he left, he asked the hedgehog, "Why did you help me? You were noticeably in a hurry yet you still helped me." The Hedgehog replied, "I helped you because I would have wanted someone to help me as well if I were in your position." The Fox was forever grateful for the Hedgehog's help and hospitality.
Author's note: This story is based on the fable "The Fox and the Mosquitoes," This story can be in the The Fables of Aesop by Joseph Jacobs. "The Fox and the Mosquitoes" is about a Fox that gets attacked by mosquitoes. A Hedgehog passes by and tries to help the Fox. This story reminded me of the biblical parable the Good Samaritan. For my story I made the hedgehog the Good Samaritan and the two other creatures the passersby that do not offer any help.
The title is inspired by the biblical story of the Good Samaritan.
"The Fox and the Mosquitoes" from The Fables of Aesop(1902). Web source: Sacred Texts Archive.
After a while a, the Fox heard a stirring in the forest. There was a rabbit. The rabbit looked like he was late for something. He kept on yelling "I'm late! I'm late! I'm late!" The rabbit saw the Fox but thought nothing of it. He was too busy worrying about be late.
As Nightfall begin to near, the Fox became fearful. He was certain that if no one came to help him soon, he would not survive for wolves like to prey or hunt during the night. If the wolves do not get him the freezing night will get him. The Fox begin to lose hope.
As the Fox was thinking of this, a hedgehog came upon him. The Hedgehog looked like he was in a hurry as well. Like the Fox, the Hedgehog was worried about nightfall. He needed to get home as soon as possible before the wolves come out. Despite it being near nightfall and dangerous being out and about, the Hedgehog took pity on the Fox and stopped to help him.
The Hedgehog helped him walk to safety, fed him, and cared for him until he healed. The Fox was finally able to leave the care of the Hedgehog and be out on his own. Before he left, he asked the hedgehog, "Why did you help me? You were noticeably in a hurry yet you still helped me." The Hedgehog replied, "I helped you because I would have wanted someone to help me as well if I were in your position." The Fox was forever grateful for the Hedgehog's help and hospitality.
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| (Fox and Hedgehog) |
The title is inspired by the biblical story of the Good Samaritan.
"The Fox and the Mosquitoes" from The Fables of Aesop(1902). Web source: Sacred Texts Archive.
Hey Sarah. I thought you story was really fun and I enjoyed reading it. I think that this story relates to many circumstances in real life when someone needs help but everyone thinks they are too busy to stop and be that Good Samaritan. Also, it seems like all too often, it is the least likely of those Good Samaritans to help out, like the Hedgehog in this story. I really liked the way you closed out the story with the quote from the Hedgehog saying, "I helped you because I would have wanted someone to help me as well if I were in your position."
ReplyDeleteHello again, Sarah! First off, I just want to say that I love the Alice in Wonderland/White Rabbit reference, haha. I thought this story was really interesting because this portrayal passed through a series of filters before coming into this form (the Bible, Aesop's Fables, then you). And through all of these filters, it changed in simple but poignant ways. The fact that in your version it reflects pieces of both previous tales in a new way was very creative. Just make sure you watch your spelling/grammar!
ReplyDeleteGreat job!