A fox lost his tail in escaping from a steel trap. When he began to
go about again, he found that every one looked down upon or laughed at
him. Not liking this, he thought to himself that if he could persuade
the other foxes to cut off their tails, his own loss would not be so
noticeable.
Accordingly he called together the foxes and said: "How is it that you
still wear your tails? Of what use are they? They are in the way, they
often get caught in traps, they are heavy to carry and not pretty to
look upon. Believe me, we are far better without them. Cut off your
tails, my friends, and you will see how much more comfortable it is.
I for my part have never enjoyed myself so much nor found life so
pleasant as I have since I lost mine."
Upon this, a sly old fox, seeing through the trick, cried, "It seems
to me, my friend, that you would not be so anxious for us to cut off
our tails, if you had not already lost yours."
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