The Blind Man and the Cub by Aesop for ESL Students

The Blind Man and the Cub by Aesop for ESL students with a video or podcast, vocabulary practice in real context, and related stories from Aesop

The Blind Man and the Cub is now in the public domain available on Gutenberg Project.

Podcast of the Blind Man and the Cub

The Blind Man and the Cub

There was once a blind man who had so fine a sense of touch that, when any animal was put into his hands, he could tell what it was merely by the feel of it.

One day, the cub of a wolf was put into his hands, and he was asked what it was.

He felt it for some time, and then said, “Indeed, I am not sure whether it is a wolf’s cub or a fox’s: but this I know—it would never do to trust it in a sheepfold.”

Evil tendencies are early shown.

Vocabulary in context

1. merely: only, simply, just
2. cub: an offspring of a carnivorous mammal, such as a lion, bear, wolf, fox, etc.
3. indeed: actually, as a matter of fact
4. sheepfold: an enclosure or shelter for sheep, manger
5. evil: morally bad, harmful
6. tendency: general inclination, propensity