“The Greedy Sparrow”

“The Greedy Sparrow”

Once in a peaceful countryside, there lived a sparrow named Chirpy. Chirpy had a small nest in an old banyan tree and lived a simple life, eating grains and insects. He had many bird friends — a wise owl, a kind dove, and a cheerful robin. Everyone admired Chirpy for being energetic and clever.

One day, while flying over the farmer's field, Chirpy saw a basket of rice grains left in the sun to dry. No one was around. Chirpy thought, “Just a few grains won’t hurt. I’ll be quick.” He swooped down, picked a beakful of rice, and flew back to his tree.

The next day, Chirpy went again — this time, he took even more. Days passed, and Chirpy began visiting the basket every morning, stuffing his beak with grains. He was no longer satisfied with what he could find in nature. The rice was easier, tastier, and he didn’t have to search for food anymore.

His friends noticed the change. The dove said gently, “Chirpy, you used to fly and sing with us. Now you’re always sneaking around the farm.”

“I found a better way to live,” Chirpy chirped proudly. “Why work hard when I can get food so easily?”

The owl warned him, “Taking what’s not yours, even if no one sees, is stealing. It may seem harmless now, but every action has consequences.”

But Chirpy laughed it off. “You old birds worry too much.”

Then one day, Chirpy found the basket had been moved. He searched frantically and saw it placed near a scarecrow. Excited and careless, he flew down without looking carefully. As he pecked at the rice, a net sprang up around him. Chirpy was trapped!

A boy ran out from the house — it was the farmer’s son. “Got you!” he shouted. “You’re the one stealing our rice!”

Chirpy flapped and cried, but the net held him tight. The boy took him to the farmer.

The farmer frowned. “This sparrow has been stealing our grains. We lose food every day. We can’t let him go easily.”

Chirpy’s heart sank. He remembered the owl’s words. His greed had led him here.

Just then, the robin flew by and saw Chirpy in the cage. She quickly informed the others. The owl, dove, and robin came to the farmer’s window, chirping loudly. The dove landed near the boy and cooed softly. The robin danced around, trying to get his attention. The owl hooted wisely from a branch.

The boy noticed. “Look, Dad! These birds seem to care about this sparrow.”

The farmer watched. “Hmm. Maybe he wasn’t always greedy. Maybe he learned his lesson.”

After a moment, the farmer sighed. “Alright, let him go. But no more stealing!”

The boy opened the cage, and Chirpy flew out, his heart full of gratitude. He landed before the farmer and chirped as if to say, “Thank you. I’m sorry.”

That evening, Chirpy sat on his branch, looking at the setting sun. His friends sat beside him.

“I should have listened to you,” he said quietly. “I was greedy. I thought I was being clever, but I was just being selfish.”

The owl nodded. “A small wrong done again and again becomes a big mistake.”

The dove added, “It’s not too late to be better.”

From that day on, Chirpy never stole again. He went back to eating simple grains and insects, and he sang more joyfully than ever. He even helped his friends collect food and shared what he found.

Chirpy had learned a lesson that stayed with him forever: greed may give short-term gains, but honesty brings peace and freedom.

Moral of the Story:

Greed can trap us in ways we don't expect. It's better to live simply and honestly than to take what isn’t ours and lose our freedom.