Artist: Jeanette Bowman
Artist: Jeanette Bowman

Today I’ve got a short tale from Aesop.

A Jay venturing into a yard where Peacocks used to walk, found there a number of feathers which had fallen from the Peacocks when they were molting. He tied them all to his tail and strutted down towards the Peacocks. When he came near them they soon discovered the cheat, and striding up to him pecked at him and plucked away his borrowed plumes. So the Jay could do no better than go back to the other Jays, who had watched his behavior from a distance; but they were equally annoyed with him, and told him:

“It is not only fine feathers that make fine birds.”

I think it’s a good reminder that what matters is who you are, not how you look. Pretending to be something you’re not is bound to backfire on you and the people who like you for who you actually are will be disappointed in you too.

Thursday’s Tales is a weekly event here at Carol’s Notebook. Fairy tales, folktales, tall tales, even re-tellings, I love them all. Feel free to join in.

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