The Talkative Turtle Fairy Tale

In a certain lake there lived a talkative turtle. She had two friends, a pair of geese. Every day the three of them chatted on the shore and had a merry time.

One year there was a terrible drought, and the lake dried up. "Far away there is a big lake. We will fly there," said the geese. "Take me with you!" begged the turtle. "But you can't fly," said the geese.

Then the turtle had an idea. "You hold the two ends of a stick in your beaks, and I will hold the middle in my mouth." The geese agreed, but they warned her: "Don't open your mouth while we are flying! If you say a single word, you will fall."

Up into the sky they went. Down below, some village children saw them and shouted, "Look! The geese are carrying a turtle! How funny!"

The turtle could not bear it. She wanted to shout, "What business is it of yours?" She opened her mouth and lost her grip on the stick. Luckily she landed on a soft meadow and was not hurt.

The geese flew down and comforted their friend. And from that day the turtle understood that sometimes it is far wiser to keep quiet.