Butterflies and Bird Song

Butterflies and Bird Song (based on a Native American legend) One dayin late summer, a magic man was passing through a village. It was a wonderful, sunny day. “ Soon, it will be winter, " thought the man. " It will be cold and grey. Everyone will be sad. " But, the man had a plan. He gathered all the beautiful things of the world and put them into a magic bag. He collected a golden ray of sunshine, the green from the leaves of trees, the rich blue of the summer sky, and the flowers of many colours.

He heard the birds singing, so he added all their wonderful songs to the bag too. Then, when he opened the bag, out flew the most beautiful creatures the world had ever seen—butterflies! The birds agreed that the butterflies were beautiful. They would help the people remember the beauty of the world, even during the dark, cold winters. But the birds asked the man to give them back their songs. " These belong to us, " they cried. " Butterflies are still beautiful without our songs. " The man agreed. And so, from that time on, butterflies were silent and beautiful.