5th Standard English Term-II
The Two Pigeons
Once, there lived two white pigeons. They were friends. They spent their days looking for food. During afternoons, they would rest on their favorite tree in the forest. Then they would sing and dance. At night, they would lock their wings and sleep.
One day it was raining heavily in the forest. The animals ran to their shelter. So did one of the hen-pigeons. She ruffed her feathers and shook her body to dry the water. She adjusted her wings and perched on the tree and started waiting for the cock-pigeon. The rain continued to pour heavily and it was getting dark. She started to worry for her friend. "He is never so late. I hope he is safe." She whispered to herself.
"Ah! The rain is heavy. Let me wait in this tree till it stops", thought the cock-pigeon and perched on a tree. He did not know there was a bird catcher nearby. The bird catcher silently reached near the pigeon and CLAMPED! He caught the pigeon. The pigeon tried to fly that ended in vain. The cock-pigeon was tensed and fainted. The hunter put the pigeon in his cage and started to walk home. "I should be home before the rain increases." he thought to himself.
It started to rain heavily, just then, the hen-pigeon saw a bird catcher coming near the tree. In the cage he had the cock-pigeon. It was unconscious. Fear gripped the hen pigeon. Was it her friend? The bird catcher neared the tree. She had to hide, but she also wanted to have a closer look, to see if it was her friend. "Oh no! It is him. What shall I do now? I have to help my friend", worried the hen pigeon. The sky thundered and the bird catcher took cover under her tree. "Looks like I have to wait till the rain stops" said the bird catcher.
Continue . . .
Soon it stopped raining, the bird catcher wanted to leave. But it was too dark and late in the night. "I will amp here for the night and leave in the morning", he thought. It was a wet and cold night and he wanted to start a fire to keep himself warm. He could not find any dry twigs. The pigeon in the cage woke up and tried to fly only for his wings to hit the cage.
The hen--pigeon started to cry. Her friend said, "Do not feel sad dear. We have a guest now. The man is shivering and hungry. He needs your help." The pigeon flew from the tree in search of dry twigs. She got two or three twigs at a time and made a big heap of dry twigs. She got flintstones for the bird catcher to start the fire. The bird catcher was surprised by the hen-pigeon. He made fire. "You are my guest. I have no food to give you. I will jump into this fire so that you can eat me. The bird catcher was overwhelmed by the hospitality f the pigeon. He caught the hen pigeon and stopped her from jumping into the fire. "Oh, kind bird! What do you want? I will help you in any way I can." said the bird catcher. Please set my friend free. My life will be meaningless without him." replied the pigeon.
He opened the cage and set the pigeon free. "I was cruel and selfish. I will never trap any bird again" said the bird catcher. He stayed the night there. In the morning, the pigeons got him nuts, fruits and seeds to eat. The bird catcher thanked the pigeons and walked away.
She stands still and tall,
She seeks greater than all.
She dives like the fish
To be like here, one can only wish.
She swims with perfect flight
Her strokes like dancing light.
She breathes air,
And rips across the water with flair
Up ahead, the audience cheer,
She knows that the finishing line is near
She picks up her pace,
As she wants to win the race
Straining with all her might,
As never gives up the fight
As she reaches the wall,
Her name as winner they call.
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