It so happened that a Fox caught its tail in a trap, and in struggling to release himself lost all of it but thestump. At first he was ashamed to show himself among his fellowfoxes. But at last he determined to put a bolder face upon his misfortune, and summoned all the foxes to a general meeting to consider a proposal which he had to place before them
When they had assembled together the Fox proposed that they should all do away with their tails. He pointed out how inconvenient a tail was when they were pursued by their enemies, the dogs; how much it was in the way when they desired to sit down and hold a friendly conversation with one another.
His friends failed to see any advantage in carrying about such a useless encumbrance. That is all very well, said one of the older foxes; but I do not think you would have recommended us todispense with our chief ornament if you had not happened to lose it yourself.