This an ancient story from Scotland. In a place called Kin tail there lived a chieftain. He had son named Shamus who had a wonderful talent. Shamus could understand and speak the language of the birds.

When he went hunting he chatted with the falcon on his wrist. Walking on the sea-shore he would listen to the sea birds. The storks and cranes told him stories of the lands across the seas. The birds near his house spoke of what they saw in the country side.

Shamus grew up into a young man who was kind, wise and brave. He traveled to foreign lands for many years.

One day, in a far off country, he came to a thick grove of tall poplar trees. A large group of woodcutters were getting ready with their saws and axes to cut down all the trees.

Shamus crossed the grove and saw a beautiful white, stone palace.

But what’s this?

Hundreds of brown sparrows were flying all around the palace. Their shrill cries filled the air.

Shamus covered his ears with his hands to shut out the noise. He went inside the palace. Hero too was hundreds of sparrows screaming and screeching. They flew everywhere beating the walls and flapping their wings.

No one in the palace could work, talk or sit.

Shamus spoke to some of the sparrow. He asked the guards to take him to their king. But nobody could hear him.

So Shamus went into all the rooms in the palace. But he could not find the king. Then he went down into the dark, dungeon deep below the palace floor. And here in the smallest, darkest room sat the king alone.

``Greetings king!’’ said shamus softly. `` I am a traveler from Scotland across the seas. I know the language of the birds. The sparrow here has told me that they have always lived in the poplar trees. But you have ordered them to be cut down. The sparrows will become homeless. And so they are angry with you. Good king, take back your order.’’

The king id as shamus told him. He also ordered that not a single twig should be broken even by mistake.

As soon as the woodcutters put down their saws and axes, the sparrows become silent. And then huge flocks of brown sparrows rose from the palace and went into the poplar grove.

The king rewarded Shamus with a splendid ship laden with riches.