The Fowler and the Thrush
ParableStoryIllustration★★★★I remember a pretty apologue that Bromiard tells: A fowler, in a sharp frosty morning, having taken many little birds for which he had long watched, began to take up his nets, and nipping the birds on the head, laid them down. A young thrush, espying the tears trickling down his cheeks by reason of the extreme cold, said to her mother, that certainly the man was very merciful and compassionate, who wept so bitterly over the calamity of the poor birds. But her mother told her more wisely, that she might better judge of the man’s disposition by his hand than by his eye ; and if the hands do strike treacherously, he can never be admitted to friendship, who speaks fairly and weeps pitifully.
Bp. Taylor.
The point
A young thrush learns from her mother that a fowler's tears mean nothing if his hands still kill, teaching that true character is judged by actions, not appearances.