Fables 286-290 Summary

(286) "The Hen and the Swallow" A hen finds some snake eggs and sits on them to keep them warm. As she waits for them to hatch, a swallow says the hen is foolish because the snakes will eat the hen first. (287) "The Hen That Laid the Golden Eggs" A beautiful hen lays golden eggs. The owner, greedy for more, decides the hen must have a lump of gold in her belly. He kills her, cuts her open and finds no gold. (288) "The Tail and the Rest of the Body of the Snake" The tail decides that he should lead the snake. The rest of the snake protests but loses the argument. The tail pulls the snake backwards, and it lands in a hole full of stones. The snake bruises her entire body, and the tail begs the head to save them...