The Merchant and the Bird

The Merchant and the Bird

A merchant kept a bird. This bird was born in India. Since he was going to India for trade, the merchant asked his beloved bird if he could bring him something from India. ''I want my freedom,'' said the bird.

But the merchant did not want to set the bird free. ''Then when you go to India, tell my relatives who are free that I am in prison,'' said the bird.

The merchant did as the bird told him. As soon as he finished speaking, a bird similar to the bird he was raising fell down at his feet from a tree. The merchant thought that this bird, being a relative of the bird he was raising, must have died of grief.

When the merchant returned home from India, he told the bird everything that had happened. As soon as he finished his story, the bird in the cage also fell from the tree that had covered it and fell under the cage. Thinking that the death of his relative had also caused the death of this animal, the merchant, with great sorrow, took it out of the cage and placed it on the window.

Immediately, the bird flew away and perched on a branch near the tree.

''My people have succeeded in sending me to you, the one who has imprisoned me, just as I should have been freed,'' said the bird and flew away.

Excerpted from an article contributed by Benedict Dodampegama to the magazine Nawayugaya in 1969.