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When the little robin was beginning to learn about
flying and singing, his mother said to him, "Learn to
fly fast and high. Sing behind thick foliage or bird
catchers will get you. Keep out of sight of human
beings. They may praise your songs and admire your
brilliant plumage. You must think nothing of their
praises or their admiration. Once you are caught and put
in a cage, you'll lose forever the life of the open sky
and vast plain. You'll face only iron bars and see
neither sunrise nor sunset". The little robin had heard the warning and advice of his
parents and his relatives many times. His uncle said the
same thing. His aunt echoed it. His grandmother talked
at length about it. At last, it began to sound like some
repetitive nonsense that only parrots cared to pick up
or listen to. So, the warning fell on deaf ears.
The little robin flew wherever he liked and sang
whenever he pleased. He laughed at the crows for being
so ugly and noisy. He looked down on the hens that could
only produce cackling noises. He spoke disrespectfully
of all other birds.
He sang to passers-by. They stopped to listen to his
merry songs. Young people or old ones, all praised him
in one voice. "What an appreciative audience these human
beings are!" thought the little robin. He sang on the
fence, on windowsills, on pillars and poles. He had
thrown caution to the wind.
One day, the little robin flew to a garden. He started
to sing. Something shot up from below. Before he could
fly away, the robin found himself glued to a few sticks
smeared with glue. He pulled and struggled. His wings
were caught in the glue too. A man appeared. With a
grin, he took the robin into the house. He removed the
glue from the little robin's feathers and feet. Then, he
put the bird into a cage. Only then did the little robin remember his mother's
words. The blue sky faded away as tears filled his eyes. |
