THE LITTLE BIRD AND HE WHO ATE IT.
Once upon a time there was a young bird of the species called antsàly, and it was stoned by a certain man; so the bird cried out thus:
"Throws stones indeed, does this man, O,
Throws stones at the little antsaly, O!
Throws stones O!"
So the man still went on throwing; and, the bird's foot being struck, it fell to the ground and was caught by the man. And when he had got it, it began to sing thus:
"Obtained indeed has this man, O,
Obtained the little antsaly, O!
Obtained O!"
Then the man took the bird home. And when he had come to his wife, the bird spake again thus:
"Obtained indeed has this man, O,
Obtained the little antsaly, O!
Obtained O!"
So the man's wife was astonished, and said, "Dear me, why this bird speaks! Whatever you may think, it's an unlucky business; for I never in all my life saw such a thing as this." But the man said, "If you won't eat it, I'll eat it by myself." So he killed the bird and cut it up, and said to his child, "Take hold, child, for it bothers me." But the mother interposed, saying, "If you're my child don't you take hold of it, for it's unlucky." So the child would not take hold, for it was afraid of its mother. Then the bird called out again:
"Will cut up indeed, will this man,
Will cut up the little antsaly!
Will cut up!"
Then the wife said again, "Dear me, are you really bold enough to do that? A bird speaking! and you dare cook it?" But the man did not answer and went on by himself; and presently really began to cut. So the bird called out again:
"Is cooking indeed, is this man,
Is cooking the little antsaly!
Is cooking!"
And after a little while the bird was cooked and the man ate ; but the people in the house would not eat, for they were afraid. Then the bird called out again:
"Is eating indeed, is this man,
Is eating the little antsaly!
Is eating!"
