TheSparrowwiththeSlitTongue
Onceuponatime...
Alonglongtimeago, anoldcoupledweltintheveryheartofahighmountain. Theylivedtogetherinpeaceandharmony, althoughtheywereverydifferentincharacter, themanbeinggood-naturedandhonest, andthewifebeinggreedyandquarrelsomewhenanyonecameherwaythatshecouldpossiblyquarrelwith.
Onedaytheoldmanwassittinginfrontofhiscottage, ashewasveryfondofdoing, whenhesawflyingtowardshimalittlesparrow, followedbyabigblackraven. Thepoorlittlethingwasverymuchfrightenedandcriedoutasitflew, andthegreatbirdcamebehinditterriblyfast, flappingitswingsandcraningitsbeak, foritwashungryandwantedsomedinner. Butastheydrewneartheoldman, hejumpedup, andbeatbacktheraven, whichmounted, withhoarsescreamsofdisappointment, intothesky, andthelittlebird, freedfromitsenemy, nestledintotheoldman'shand, andhecarrieditintothehouse. Hestrokeditsfeathers, andtolditnottobeafraid, foritwasquitesafe; butashestillfeltitsheartbeating, heputitintoacage, whereitsoonpluckedupcouragetotwitterandhopabout. Theoldmanwasfondofallcreatures, andeverymorningheusedtoopenthecagedoor, andthesparrowflewhappilyaboutuntilitcaughtsightofacatoraratorsomeotherfiercebeast, whenitwouldinstantlyreturntothecage, knowingthattherenoharmcouldcometoit.
Thewoman, whowasalwaysonthelook-outforsomethingtogrumbleat, grewveryjealousofherhusband'saffectionforthebird, andwouldgladlyhavedoneitsomeharmhadshedared. Atlast, onemorningheropportunitycame. Herhusbandhadgonetothetownsomemilesawaydownthemountain, andwouldnotbebackforseveralhours, butbeforehelefthedidnotforgettoopenthedoorofthecage. Thesparrowhoppedaboutasusual, twitteringhappily, andthinkingnoevil, andallthewhilethewoman'sbrowbecameblackerandblacker, andatlengthherfurybrokeout. Shethrewherbroomatthebird, whowasperchedonabrackethighuponthewall. Thebroommissedthebird, butknockeddownandbrokethevaseonthebracket, whichdidnotsoothetheangrywoman. Thenshechaseditfromplacetoplace, andatlasthaditsafebetweenherfingers, almostasfrightenedasonthedaythatithadmadeitsfirstentranceintothehut.