Once upon a time there lived several birds in a big tree. In that same big tree lived a sparrow-couple in their own nest. The sparrows and the birds were close friends. They lived happily as good neighbours and helped each other.
A few steps away from the tree was a shrub laden with blood-red flowers. These flowers looked like burning coke. Anybody could mistake them for red-hot pieces of coke.
Now, the winter season was in full swing and an icy wind was blowing. A group of monkeys chanced to come that way. The monkeys were shivering with cold. They were looking for some shelter from the biting cold wind.
All of a sudden they caught sight of the flowery shrub. Seeing the dark red flowers, they mistook them for burning coke and sat round the shrub in a circle. Though the flowers were not giving off any warmth, the monkeys were very happy with the idea that they were enjoying the warmth of the fire.
One of the bird saw this and burst into laughter. The loud laughter of the bird startled the monkeys. They looked at the bird and one of them asked, “What made you laugh so loudly, Mr. Bird ?
“Your silliness,” replied the bird.
“What do you mean ?” thundered a monkey. “You all are shivering with cold while sitting round this shrub. Why don’t you look for some cozy shelter ?” said the bird.
“Why ? we are sitting round the red-hot pieces of coke. How warm they are in fact! What business have you got to call us silly and laugh at us ?” argued the monkey in an angry tone.
“The bird again laughed wildly and said, “You are all fools indeed. Where are pieces of burning coke. They are only blood-red flowers of the shrub. They only look like red-hot pieces of coke. You can go and touch them to find that they are not hot at all,” explained the bird.
So, one of the monkeys got up from his place and touched some flowers one by one. They were not hot at all. So, he felt very ashamed. But suddenly he grew angry and thundered, “Why did you laugh at us and why did you call us silly after all ? We may do anything we like. You have no right to interfere. Be quiet and mind your own business.”
The bird was stunned at the outburst of the monkey and said, “Brother! I have really no right to interfere with your affairs. I simply tried to remove your misunderstanding by telling you that these flowers are not hot.”
But the monkey was almost mad in rage. So, he went up the tree and caught hold of the bird by his neck. Then he came down threatening the bird in many ways. The poor bird entreated the monkey humbly feeling sorry for what he had done. But the monkey did not heed and got ready to kill him. He smashed his head on a nearby rock and killed him there and then.
Just at that time, the sparrow-couple happened to reach there. When they saw their neighbour lying dead, they started wailing aloud. The monkeys had not left the place so far. Suddenly dark clouds appeared in the sky and it began to rain very heavily.
Overtaken by heavy rain, the monkeys ran towards the tree and climbed it up. They perched on its various branches to be safe from the rain. A hard wind began to blow and the rain took the form of a rain-storm. The monkeys were holding the branches tightly for fear of falling down. Also they were badly shivering due to unusual cold.
The sparrows were very, very sad at the murder of their friend. The monkeys were looking at them jealously again and again. They could not tolerate their sitting safely in their cozy nest.
The father-sparrow could not control himself and he said to the monkeys in a rebuking tone, “You fools! you have got man-like hands. Why can’t you work with them to make homes for yourselves. These homes can keep you warm and safe from bad weather. Why should you suffer like that ?”
The monkey that had killed the bird earlier was still very angry. He could not tolerate the advice of the sparrow. Moreover, the father-sparrow had called them fools too. So, he decided to teach him a bitter lesson as well.
In the twinkling of an eye, the monkey pounced on the sparrows. But they flew away to save themselves. Their escape added to the monkey’s anger a lot and he pulled down their nest and scattered it on the ground. Two young birdies fell down along with the nest and were killed on the spot.
The sparrow-couple winged as fast as they could to safety, lamenting over the loss of their home and babies.
So, Children ! learn a lesson from this story. Never try to advise a person who does not deserve it. It is only the noble who value someone’s advice. Evil persons always disregard it. Not only this, they turn inimical to those who try to advise them.
