The Sparrow and The Rabbit
Mr Sparrow was only a little bird. He was not at all a nice bird, because he was always telling stories about someone. Many birds and animals in the forrest were complaining about him. But Mr Sparrow did not take any notice of their complaints. He kept on telling stories, often causing bitter quarrels between the many inhabitants of the forest.
One day this nasty little bird was sitting on the branch of a tree, when he spied Mr Rabbit coming by. Not knowing that Mr Sparrow was quite close in the tree above him, Mr Rabbit was talking loudly to himself, ” I’ll do something which will make Mr Fox so angry! Ha, ha, ha. He will be so angry, I’m sure!”
On hearing this Mr Sparrow immediately cried out to Mr Rabbit, “No, Mr Rabbit, you won’t! For I’m going to tell Mr Fox what you’ve just said!”
Mr Rabbit quite startled. Then he cried back in a little voice, “Please, Mr Sparrow, don’t tell Mr Fox. I beg you, please!”
“Oh no, Mr Rabbit, I’m going to Mr Fox this very moment and tell him what you’ve just said!”
And with that the ugly little bird quickly flew away.
Mr Rabbit was puzzled for a moment. He did not know what to do, for he was so afraid of Mr Fox.
“Mr Fox will kill me, I’m sure. I should not have talked so loudly.”
Mr Rabbit thought hard, and at last he got a bright idea. He smiled to himself. He did have bright ideas sometimes.
In the meantime Mr Sparrow had arrived at Mr Fox’s den and had told him what Mr Rabbit had said. Mr Fox got very angry with Mr Rabbit. In a little while he went running through the forest. When he got near his bunny-hole Mr Rabbit called out, “Mr Fox! Mr Fox! Oh, Mr Fox!”
“What?”
“Please don’t come near me,” said Mr Rabbit.
“And why not?” asked Mr Fox, a bit puzzled.
“Because you will kill me and set my house on fire.”
“Why do you say that?”
“I was told so,” answered Mr Rabbit.
“Someone told me that you said, ” I’ll kill Mr Rabbit and set his house on fire!”
“Who told you that?” asked Mr Fox, asthonised.
“Mr Sparrow told me!”
“Mr Sparrow, did you say?”
“Yes, indeed. Mr Sparrow warned me against you!”
Mr Fox did not say another word, and slunk homewards.
Next day Mr Sparrow was sitting in a tree not far from Mr Fox’s den. He was waiting for Mr Fox to show himself. As soon as he saw Mr Fox, he called out to him.
“What do you want?” asked Mr Fox.
“I’ve got something to tell you,” answered Mr Sparrow.
“Ah, have you! Please come nearer, Mr Sparrow, then I can hear you better.”
Mr Sparrow jumped on a stone in front of Mr Fox.
“Please stand on my head, dear Mr Sparrow, for my left ear is bad, and I can’t hear with my right one.”
Feeling very pleased Mr Sparrow immediately jumped on to Mr Fox’s head.
“Look,” said Mr Fox, “why don’t you say in my mouth? Then I’ll be able to hear you nicely.”
“That’s a good idea,” said Mr Sparrow happily, and hopped into Mr Fox’s mouth. Mr Fox at once shut his mouth and ate Mr Sparrow.
“Now go and tell stories about me!” he said.
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Comment by Chased — June 6, 2010 @ 5:59 am