THE WOODPECKER WHO WAS SELFISH
Reading edition
(An Indian folk tale)
Sometimes the selfish come to grief.
Once there was a little lady woodpecker who lived in a hole in a big pine tree. Her house was cozy, lined with moss and wool and protected by a little bark door, making it cool in summer and warm in winter. She was a selfish little bird, and never asked any one to come and see her. Next door lived a little fluffy sparrow. His nest was loosely built, and rested in the forks of the tree. This was not fluffy sparrow’s fault, it was because sparrows are not good nest builders. One day there was a storm which blew the nest down. He flew to the little bark door and said:
“Oh, little Lady Woodpecker, have pity on me and take me into your house; the rain is falling and I am very, very cold.” But the Lady Woodpecker answered: “I can’t let you in to-day, Fluffy Sparrow. I am cooking juniper berries for a batch of pies. Come some other time and perhaps I will let you in.” He hopped away, and the rain made him very cold.
The next day he flew beside the bark door and said:
“Oh, little Lady Woodpecker, have pity on me and take me into your house, for the cold and cruel winds blow and ruffles my feathers.” But she answered:
“I can’t let you in to-day, Fluffy Sparrow. I’m washing the pot in which I cooked some juniper berries to make a batch of pies. Come again some other time, and perhaps I’ll let you in.”
The next day he came as before and said:
“Oh, little Lady Woodpecker, have pity on me and take me into your house, for the biting frost nips my feet.” But she said:
“I can’t let you in to-day, Fluffy Sparrow. I’m making the crust for my batch of juniper pies. Come again some other time, and perhaps I will let you in.” So he hopped away and the frost nipped his feet.
The fourth day Fluffy Sparrow came back and said:
“Oh, little Lady Woodpecker, have pity on me and take me into your home, for the snow blinds me.” But she answered:
“I can’t let you in to-day, Fluffy Sparrow. I’m cleaning my floor before I sit down all by myself to eat my juniper berry pie.” So the snow blinded Fluffy Sparrow’s eyes.
The last day Fluffy Sparrow came and said:
“Oh, little Lady Woodpecker, please have pity on me and take me into your house, for I do not like the rain, wind, frost and snow.” But she did not answer.
He pushed open the door and saw no one there. She had gone to buy a key to lock her door while she ate her juniper pies. He went inside where he was sheltered from rain, wind, frost and snow. He ate up all the juniper berry pies. When the little Lady Woodpecker returned Fluffy Sparrow was living there and she had to find another home.