The Cuckoo and the Little Birds
Once upon a time, at the foothills of a high mountain where cool waters flowed, there was a lively forest. In this forest, tiny sparrows, wrens, and nightingales joyfully built their nests and raised their chicks with love. However, a big-eyed cuckoo bird living in the same forest was always lazy instead of building its own nest. When spring came, colorful flowers bloomed, and little birds brooded on their eggs with sweet excitement. The cuckoo bird, on the other hand, perched on a high oak branch and arrogantly watched the sweet tiredness of other birds. One day, the cunning cuckoo bird made a sneaky plan and waited for the little wren to leave its nest.
When the wren went to look for food, the cuckoo bird secretly laid its own egg into that tiny nest. Days passed, and the giant cuckoo chick hatching from the egg swallowed all the food brought by the little mother bird all by itself. While her own offspring remained hungry and grew skinny, the wren was bewildered and sad, not knowing what to do. Realizing the situation, other little birds in the forest gathered immediately and went to the cuckoo bird. Watching the nest from afar, the cuckoo bird asked proudly, "Why are you looking at me with such anger?" Stepping forward, the old and wise sparrow shouted, "Because you run away from your responsibility and prey on others' labor!"
Holding its head up high, the cuckoo bird defended itself, saying, "I am only continuing my lineage, what harm is there in that?" In tears, the wren responded, "Because of you, my own chicks are miserable with hunger!" Uniting together, the little birds decided to drive the cunning cuckoo bird out of the forest. Joining forces, tiny wings flapped and screeched, surrounding the giant cuckoo bird and chasing it away. Stunned by what happened, the proud cuckoo bird found the solution in fleeing toward deep valleys.
After that day, the little birds protected their nests more carefully and raised their chicks with joy. As for the cunning cuckoo bird, it was doomed to live far away all alone, friendless and homeless. No happiness built by exploiting the labor of others lasts long. No pains, no gains.