The Sparrow and the Hare
Long ago, at the edge of a cool forest where colourful flowers gave off their scent, there lived a little hare. This hare gathered fresh grass all day long and listened joyfully to the whispers of the sweet wind. On the branch of a tall tree perched a rather arrogant and talkative sparrow that meddled in everything. The sparrow thought itself the cleverest creature of the forest and constantly mocked the efforts of the other animals. One afternoon, while the sun shone brightly, a pitch-black shadow suddenly appeared in the sky. A huge eagle glided silently and set an ambush upon the helpless hare that was wandering calmly in the meadow.
Caught between the sharp talons, the hare began to scream with pain, struggling for its life in despair. The sparrow, sitting on its comfortable branch, saw this pitiful scene and, instead of helping, chirped in a mocking tone. "Weren't you the fastest runner of the forest? Why did you not use those nimble legs and flee?" it cried. The little bird, caring nothing for another's pain, went on giving smug advice, looking down on the helpless hare. "If you had tried a little harder you could easily have escaped the talons of that huge bird!" it boasted. At that very moment a nimble hawk, hearing the sparrow's loud mockery, glided down from the sky.
Before the chattering sparrow could even understand what was happening, the hawk tore it from the branch with its sharp talons. The proud sparrow, stunned by what had befallen it, now began to struggle desperately for its own life. The little bird that had rejoiced and boasted at another's disaster paid the price of its own fault very dearly. The eagle, seeing the hungry hawk, took fright, let go of its prey and drew away swiftly into the clouds. Those who mock another's hardship instead of learning from it invite disaster upon themselves. Do not laugh at your neighbour, it will come to you.