The Bird - A lesson to Learn

It was Serozha's birthday, and he received many different gifts
peg tops, and hobby horses
and pictures
But Serozha's uncle gave him a gift that he prized
above all the rest - it was a trap
for snaring birds




The trap was constructed in such a way that
a board was fitted on the frame and shut down upon the top
If seed was scattered on the board
and the trap was put out in the yard
the little bird would fly down
hop upon the board
the board would give way
and the trap would shut with a clap



Serozha was delighted
and he ran into the house to show his mother the trap



His mother said

It is not a good plaything
What do you want to do with birds
Why do you want to torture them




I am going to put them in a cage, Serozha said
They will sing, and I will feed them




He got some seed, scattered it on the board
and set the trap in the garden
And he stood by and expected the birds to fly down
But the birds were afraid of him and
would not come near the cage
Serozha ran in to get something to eat
and left the cage




After dinner he went to look at it
The cage had shut
and in it a little bird was
beating against the bars




Serozha took up the bird
and carried it into the house
Mother, I have caught a bird! he cried
I think it is a nightingale
and how its heart beats




His mother said it was a wild canary
Be careful! Don't hurt it
you would better let it go




"No," he said
I am going to give it something to eat and drink




Serozha put the bird in a cage
and for two days gave it seed and water
and cleaned the cage
But on the third day he forgot all about it
and did not change the water




And his mother said
See here, you have forgotten your bird
You would better let it go




Serozha thrust his hand in the cage and began to clean it
but the little bird was frightened and fluttered
After Serozha had cleaned the cage
he went to get some water
His mother saw that he had forgotten to shut the cage door
and she called after him




Serozha, shut up your cage
else your bird will fly out and hurt itself




She had hardly spoken the words
when the bird found the door
was delighted, spread its wings
and flew around the room toward the window
Serozha came running in
picked up the bird
and put it back in the cage
The bird was still alive
but it lay on its breast
with its wings spread out
and breathed heavily
Serozha looked and looked at it
and began to cry




Mother, what can I do now?
he asked




You can do nothing now,she replied




Serozha stayed by the cage all day
He did nothing but look at the bird
And all the time the bird lay on its breast
and breathed hard and fast




When Serozha went to bed
the bird was dead
Serozha could not get to sleep for a long time
every time that he shut his eyes
he seemed to see the bird still lying and sighing




In the morning when Serozha went to his cage
he saw the bird lying on its back
with its legs crossed
and all stiff




After that Serozha never again snared birds



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Best Wishes
NOOR