Once a small bird broke his wing. Now normally the bird
could have handle this and just rested until it was well,
however this happened right at the time when he should
have been joining the other birds flying south for the
winter. He could see huge flocks in the sky but he
couldn't get off the ground.The small bird knew he needed to find a place to stay
for the winter where he would be sheltered from the
cold. He decided he'd better find a tree to stay in.The first tree he came to was a majestic elm. He
looked way up at the tree outlined against a sky
filling with snow clouds and said, "Oh Mr Elm,
may I stay in your branches? I've broken my wing
and cannot fly south."The huge elm looked down at the bird and said,
"I've worked hard all summer giving shade to the park.
I don't have the energy to work in the winter too. I've
earned my rest and besides, I've dropped all my leaves
and wouldn't be able to do much of a job. Go away
and let me sleep."The little bird went on. Soon he came to a mighty oak
tree. He knew it was a mighty oak because all large
oaks are mighty. He said, "Oh Mr. Oak Tree, I have
broken my wing and cannot fly south. Can I stay in your
branches for the winter? You are such a big strong
tree, I'm sure you could help me."The oak tree could hardly see the little bird way
down on the ground and said, "I'm just exhausted.
All summer long I had to shade children and in the
fall I put out record numbers of acorns for all the
animals that use the nuts all winter long. I really
couldn't do one thing more. I've dropped my leaves
and it would be to hard to keep you warm. You'll just
have to look elsewhere for a place to stay. Now off
with you. I need my beauty sleep."Large snow flakes were starting to fall around the
little bird as he trudged on. Next he came to a maple
tree. "Oh please Mr. Maple tree, can I stay in your
branches for the winter? I have broken my wing and
cannot fly south. You are so big and strong that you
probably would even notice me.""Notice you?" said the maple, "Why you would
probably keep me up all winter. I'm so sleepy.
Why all summer it was keep my area shaded. And in
the fall I couldn't even catch any shut eye as I had to
get my leaves all colored. And I'm the first one to have
to work in the spring you know, get that sap moving so
there will be lots to make syrup with. I'm sorry but I'm
just too tired to deal with you. With all my leaves off,
I'd probably drop you first thing. You'd better keep
looking, I feel my branches drooping already."The poor little bird didn't know what he was going to
do. The snow was falling heavier and he was getting
very cold. All he could see in the way of trees was
a small pine. How much shelter could a small pine be?
Still the little bird was getting desperate. He gathered
up his courage and said, "Ms Pine, I have broken my
wing and cannot fly south. I've asked the big trees if
I could shelter in their branches but they all said no.
Can you help me? I don't know what to do."Now in those days, pines lost their needles just
like trees loose their leaves so the small pine didn't
look like much of a shelter but she said, "Come up
into my branches little bird. I'm not big or anything
but I will try my best to keep you warm." The little
bird hopped up into the pine's branches.All winter long the small pine worked at protecting
the bird. She maved her snow covered branches
around to break the harsh winter wind and she used
all her strength to stay awake all winter long. It was
a long difficult winter but at long last it was over.The little bird's wing had healed. "Oh thank you Ms
Pine tree. I don't know what I would have done
without you." After many goodbyes, the bird joined
the birds arriving from the south to build nest and get
started on all the summer things to do.Now the small pine tree's good deed did not go
unnoticed. An angel in heaven looked down at the
pine. "Small pine, you have done well. Your selfless
act of kindness is a tribute to life. From now on you will
not loose your needles but will stay ever green."
Ever since that time the pine tree has never lost
its needles in the winter.