THE HOSPITALITY OF THE PIGEON

ONCE UPON A TIME, THERE LIVED TWO PIGEONS.

THEY WERE HUSBAND AND WIFE.

THEY SPEND THEIR DAY LOOKING FOR FOOD.

IN THE EVENING THEY WOULD COME AND REST

ON THEIR FAVOURITE TREE IN THE FOREST. 

ONE EVENING, THE WIFE RETURNED HOME EARLY.

AS USUAL SHE WAS WAITING FOR HER HUSBAND,

WHEN SUDDENLY IT STARTED RAINING.

SHE STARTED TO WORRY.

“WHERE ARE YOU, MY DEAR?

YOU NEVER GET SO LATE,”

SHE WHISPERED TO HERSELF. 

JUST THEN SHE SAW A BIRD-CATCHER

COMING TOWARDS HER.

IN A CAGE HE HAD A PIGEON.

IT WAS HER HUSBAND.

“OH NO, WHAT SHALL I DO NOW”

I WISH I COULD HELP MY HUSBAND,” SHE SAID.

SHE DESPERATELY TRIED TO DISTRACT

THE BIRD-CATCHER BY FLAPPING

HER WINGS, BUT ALL IN VAIN. 

SOON, IT STOPPED RAINING.

“BRRR! IT IS SO COLD,”

SAID THE BIRD-CATCHER.

HIS CLOTHES WERE WET.

HE DECIDED TO SIT UNDER THE SAME

TREE WHERE THE TWO PIGEONS LIVED. 

THE POOR WIFE SAT BY HER HUSBAND’S CAGE.

AND SHE STARTED TO CRY.

THE HUSBAND SAID.

“DO NOT FEEL SAD, DEAR.

WE NOW HAVE A GUEST.

THIS MAN IS SHIVERING AND HUNGRY.

HE NEEDS YOUR HELP.”

HEARING THIS, THE WIFE FLEW

AROUND GETTING DRY TWIGS.

SHE MADE A FIRE FOR THE BIRD-CATCHER.

THEN SHE LOOKED AT THE BIRD-CATCHER AND SAID,

“YOU ARE OUR GUEST,

SINCE I HAVE NO FOOD TO OFFER,

I WILL JUMP INTO THIS FIRE.

IN FEW MINUTES I WILL BECOME AN

EDIBLE ITEM FOR YOU.

YOU CAN EAT ME.” 

BY NOW, THE BIRD-CATCHER WAS

OVERWHELMED BY THE HOSPITALITY OF

THE HUMBLE PIGEON COUPLE.

HE AT ONCE STOPPED THE WIFE

JUMPING INTO THE FIRE. 

HE OPENED THE CAGE AND SET

THE HUSBAND FREE.

“I HAVE BEEN CRUEL AND SELFISH.

I WILL NEVER TRAP ANY BIRD IN MY NET AGAIN,”

SAID THE BIRD-CATCHER AND WENT AWAY.

THE TWO PIGEONS WERE HAPPILY REUNITED.