In this cautionary tale, Mother Turkey diligently warns her chicks about the sly and flattering Mr. Fox before tucking them into a high tree branch for safety. When the fox arrives, attempting to lure the family down with polite words and compliments, Mother Turkey cleverly deflects his advances. Recognizing the danger, she ultimately outsmarts the predator by appealing to his vanity, tricking him into jumping into a water-filled hogshead trap, thus demonstrating the importance of parental wisdom, recognizing danger disguised as politeness, and using intelligence to overcome threats.