The Sparrow and the Crow

A sparrow and a crow once agreed to have khichrî  for dinner. So the Sparrow brought rice, and the Crow brought lentils, and the Sparrow was cook, and when the khichrî  was ready, the Crow stood by to claim his share.

"Who ever heard of any one sitting down to dinner so dirty as you are?" quoth the Sparrow scornfully. "Your body is quite black, and your head looks as if it were covered with ashes. For goodness gracious sake, go and wash in the Pond first."

The Crow, though a little huffy at being called dirty, deemed it best to comply, for he knew what a determined little person the Sparrow was; so he went to the Pond, and said—

But the Pond said, "Certainly I will give you water; but first you must go to the Deer, and beg him to lend you a horn. Then with it you can dig a nice little rill for the water to flow in clean and fresh."

So the Crow flew to the Deer, and said—

But the Deer said, "Certainly I will give you a horn; but first you must go to the Cow, and ask her to give you some milk for me to drink. Then I shall grow fat, and not mind the pain of breaking my horn."

So the Crow flew off to the Cow, and said—

But the Cow said, "Certainly I will give you milk, only first you must bring me some Grass; for who ever heard of a cow giving milk without grass?"

So the Crow flew to some Grass, and said—

But the Grass said, "Certainly I will give you Grass; but first you must go to the Blacksmith, and ask him to make you a sickle. Then you can cut me, for who ever heard of Grass cutting itself?"

So the Crow went to the Blacksmith, and said—

"With pleasure," said the Blacksmith, "if you will light the fire and blow the bellows."

So the Crow began to light the fire, and blow the bellows, but in so doing he fell right in—to—the—very—middle—of—the— fire , and was burnt!

So that was the end of him, and the Sparrow ate all the khichrî.