“Well,” said the man, “let us sit down together till I tell the story. I thought no one would ever get it; but now it will be heard by all.”
THE STORY.
(The Story is from the narrative of Terence Davis, of Renvyle, co. Galway.)
When I was growing up, my mother taught me the language of the birds; and when I got married, I used to be listening to their conversation; and I would be laughing; and my wife would be asking me what was the reason of my laughing, but I did not like to tell her, as women are always asking questions. We went out walking one fine morning, and the birds were arguing with one another. One of them said to another,—
“Why should you be making comparison with me, when there is not a king nor knight that does not come to look at my tree?”
“Oh, what advantage has your tree over mine, on which there are three rods of magic and mastery growing?”
When I heard them arguing, and knew that the rods were there, I began to laugh.
“Oh,” asked my wife, “why are you always laughing? I believe it is at myself you are jesting, and I’ll walk with you no more.”
“Oh, it is not about you I am laughing. It is because I understand the language of the birds.”