The jackdaw built a nest of motley materials in the grove. It was ramshackle and never finished. On it he put all his treasures, which were of the most varied kind.

One day the lion came into the grove. He approached the jackdaw and began to speak to him in the most friendly way. “Friend jackdaw,” said the lion, “I see that your home is unfinished. I see that your treasures are not catalogued and are in disarray. Is there anyway I may be of help?”

The jackdaw was delighted: “Why, I like that! How very kind! How very kind!” And the bird

began to hop around happily as it thought out loud. “Over here the twigs have collapsed, you could sweep them away with one blow of your paw . . . but no, there are things resting on the twigs. I would need to move the things… You could find leaves for thatching! But no, I’m not ready for that either.” The bird rattled on quite contentedly about all the projects that could not be done until some other project were itself completed, all of which he felt sure would be completed soon, very soon, perhaps tomorrow.

The lion interrupted. “I see how I could give you considerable help, my friend. Indeed, I will give you the best possible aid that I can. My aid to you is this: in one week I will return to this spot and devour you.”

In one week’s time, the jackdaw had fled to another part of the grove and built himself a small but comfortable nest to which he had brought only his few most favorite treasures.

When the lion saw all this, he left the grove in peace.

Moral: Tomorrow never comes on its own.