🐶 The Dog in the Manger
📜 The Dog in the Manger
Aesop’s Fable – Easy English Version
NARRATOR:
One warm afternoon, a dog wandered into a barn and found a soft bed of hay in a manger.
Though dogs don’t eat hay, it was cool and comfortable, so he curled up and fell asleep.
NARRATOR:
A little while later, a hungry cow walked slowly into the barn.
Her stomach rumbled, and she looked at the hay eagerly.
She walked toward the manger, ready to eat.
🐄 COW:
“Moo… I’m so hungry. May I eat some of this hay, please?”
NARRATOR:
But the dog suddenly woke up.
He jumped to his feet and barked loudly.
🐕 DOG:
“Grrr! Go away! This is my place now!”
NARRATOR:
The cow blinked in surprise.
She looked at the dog with confusion.
🐄 COW:
“But… you don’t even eat hay. Why won’t you let me have some?”
NARRATOR:
The dog just growled again and refused to move.
Even though he didn’t want the hay,
he didn’t want anyone else to have it either.
NARRATOR:
Other animals nearby had seen everything.
They shook their heads and whispered:
🦆🐐 ANIMALS:
“Why keep something you don’t need—
and stop others from using it when they do?”
NARRATOR (ending):
Some people are like the dog in the manger.
They don’t need a thing themselves,
but they don’t want others to enjoy it either.
It’s better to share than to block what you cannot use.
THE END.
📚 Vocabulary
-
Manger – a box or trough where animals eat hay
-
Hay – dry grass that animals eat
-
Growl – the low, angry sound a dog makes
-
Barn – a building on a farm where animals live
-
Share – to let others use something too
🗣 Useful Expressions
-
“This is my place now!” – when someone doesn’t want to move or share
-
“You don’t even eat hay.” – pointing out unfairness
-
“Why keep something you don’t need?” – a question about selfishness
❓Comprehension Questions
1. 🐕 Where did the dog sleep?
2. 🐄 What did the cow want to eat?
3. ❌ Why wouldn’t the dog let the cow eat the hay?
4. 🐐 What did the other animals think?
5. 💡 What lesson can we learn from this story?