A fable is a short story, usually featuring animals, that conveys a moral or lesson. Usually. (Your Dictionary)
examples: “Don’t expect a reward when serving the wicked.” ” No act of kindness is ever wasted.” “Slow and steady wins the race.” ” What is history but a fable agreed upon?” “Don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched.” “It is easy to impose impossible remedies.” (Aesop)
Once upon a time there was a cow who ate eggs. She did not mean to eat eggs, and in fact did not even like eggs, but her cow-self had become quite bewildered and confused because the farmer who tended her was a greedy sort of fellow who demanded constant and continual motherhood of her so that he could become rich by selling her calves and milk.
The chickens and the geese and the guineas who lived in the cow’s barnyard were all in quite a flap about this danger to their eggs. Of course, there were no Swans (as Swans never live in barnyards), who would have naturally known how to handle this cow.
So one day when there was a Gathering of all the birds in the barnyard, with even a few ravens perching in the trees to listen as well, the topic on everyone’s mind was What to Do about this Cow Who Ate Eggs. How could they save their babies? The danger to their precious young quite frightened them, or made them angry, but what was to be done? After all, it was not the cow’s fault. Perhaps they could approach the farmer with the problem. But then they rolled their eyes knowingly, and agreed sadly that he was not one to be reasoned with.
Finally they agreed to consult the wisdom of the Swans who lived on the nearby lake, for none are known who are quite so ferocious at protecting their eggs and young as Swans. And so a delegation of farmyard fowl was sent to the Swans, which of course was a Very Wise Thing to do.
After the Swans had listened to the tale of the Cow Who Ate Eggs, they looked with tolerant forbearance at the delegation of distraught and worried birds, and said, “The answer is simple: DO NOT PUT YOUR EGGS WITHIN REACH OF CONFUSED COWS.”
And so the problem was solved. Sadly the cow still has her problem, but that is Another Story.