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Spiritism for
Kids
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Célia Xavier
Camargo -
Portuguese
Spanish |
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Year 6 -
N°
288 –
November 25,
2012 |
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Translation
Johnny Silveira
- silveirajohnny@yahoo.com |
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The Red Ovenbird
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A Red Ovenbird
chose a
beautiful fork
in the branch of
a tree to start
building its
nest. From there
it would have
good visibility
of everything
that happened
nearby, in order
to fend off the
natural enemies
of its species.
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Carefully, it
climbed to the
highest branch,
raised its
little head in
order to feel
the direction of
the wind, and
thus it knew
from which side
the winds of
winter would
come.
So, knowing from
which direction
the wind would
blow, it
prepared itself
to start work,
placing the door
on an strategic
side as to
protect its
family
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from the
wind.
After
that
step, it
started
to build
the
house
with
clay,
straws,
fresh
manure,
leaves
and
small
twigs. |
Thus being very
careful, the Red
Ovenbird makes
its house like a
little oven,
preserving its
family from
wind, cold and
rain.
He was really
engrossed in its
construction,
looking for
materials and
taking them up,
when it saw a
beautiful Canary
nearby spending
its time looking
for what to eat
and singing.
In the following
days, the
beautiful bird
continued to
sing the same
way in one of
the branches of
a tree. The
provident Red
Ovenbird asked
him:
- I see that you
do nothing all
day other than
to eat and sing.
Don't you worry
about the cold
days that are
coming?
The Canary waved
its colourful
feathers and
answered in a
twitter:
- Oh no! I
really like to
fly around
singing the
beauties of the
day, and when
I'm hungry, I
look for
something to
eat. I live very
well this way!
The Red Ovenbird
fell silent and
went about its
service.
However, the
Canary was
always there,
from one branch
to another,
while the
builder
proceeded with
its task. One
day the bird
asked:
- Red Ovenbird,
why so much care
in making your
nest? It is so
much work! You
do not stop all
day! ...
The Red
Ovenbird, while
putting a bit of
mud on the wall
of its house,
said:
- I do it
because I do not
want my family
to go cold or
rained on. I
want to see it
well sheltered
in the winter,
when the winds
come.
The beautiful
Canary heard it
but did not buy
it, responding:
- Not for me! I
like living
without worries!
When I need to
take shelter, I
look for a place
in the woods and
always find
some. So, I do
not see why work
so hard!
- We'll see! -
said the
provident Red
Ovenbird.
After another
two weeks, the
hard-working
builder
completed its
home. It adorned
it and its wife
settled in it.
However on that
very day the
weather began to
worsen. Strong
winds blew
causing the
trees to bend
down and leaves
to fall from the
branches.
The songbird,
alarmed by the
violence of the
wind and the
dark clouds that
covered the sky
blotting out the
sunlight, tried
to hide
somewhere. But
found nothing
because the
safest places
were already
occupied.
Clinging to its
branch, it
pleaded:
- Take pity, Red
Ovenbird! Help
me! I'm in
danger! ...
And the Red
Ovenbird, form
the door of its
well-built
house, with its
strong and
strident voice
said:
- You did not
worry about your
safety. Now hold
on!
Right then the
rain began to
fall, heavy and
strong, and
gusty winds blew
away the thick
drops of rain
from the storm,
hitting the
small body of
the Canary while
it grabbed a
tree branch,
terrified.
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The Red
Ovenbird, seeing
the Canary's
predicament and
overcoming the
tendencies of
its species,
commiserated.
- Come on!
Protect yourself
in my house!
Hearing it, the
relieved Canary
tried to get to
the house. But
it was very
difficult! The
storm did not
allow it to move
quickly. So only
with great
difficulty it
managed to make
it there.
At the door, it
rattled its
feathers of the
heavy rain, so
it would not
drip in the
house and
entered. Inside
the atmosphere
was calm, the
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temperature
was warm
and
everything
was dry. |
Surprised, the
colourful bird
said to its
friend:
- You were
right. I was
short-sighted
and almost died
because of that.
Thank you, Red
Ovenbird.
While you were
working, I had
fun enjoying
life. Now I see
that you were
right. We need
to think about
the difficult
days of life.
But I do not
know how to
build a house
like you do! I
nest, when I
have a
companion, so
that the eggs
are protected
and the little
bids can be
born. But that's
it! And on a day
like this, my
nest would not
resist!
But the Red
Ovenbird, calmly
replied:
- That's right,
my friend. To
each one its own
way of being.
The Red
Ovenbird's wife
came into the
room and
listened to the
two talking.
When the storm
ended, the
beautiful bird
left the house
saying goodbye
to its new
friends:
- Thank you. If
it were not for
your generosity,
Red Ovenbird,
today I would
have died.
The Red Ovenbird
thought a little
and replied:
- I think we
should help each
other. After
all, we are all
children of the
same Father,
which has made
us different in
order to
brighten up the
Creation,
putting more
colours into
life, so that
each one
contributes its
share to the
enrichment of
life for all. My
species, for
example, is
constituted of
experienced
builders. Yours
consists of
beautiful
singers,
saluting the sun
and beautifying
nature. But we
all contribute
to the greatness
of life.
The beautiful
bird heard with
admiration the
wise Red Ovenbird,
and thanking it,
left with a
beautiful song,
opening its
wings and
lifting up to
the skies.
It left that
home feeling
intimately
enriched.
MEIMEI
(Message
received by
Celia Xavier de
Camargo on
5/11/2012.)
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