A sparrow had a nest on a tree in a forest. One day, it was biting cold, and three or four shivering monkeys took shelter under that same tree. One monkey said, "If we could find a way to make fire, our cold would go away."
Another monkey suggested, "Look, how many dry leaves are scattered here. Let's pile them up and think of a way to light them."
The monkeys made a pile of dry leaves and sat in a circle trying to figure out how to light it. Just then, one monkey saw a firefly flying in the air and jumped up. He ran towards it, shouting, "Look, a spark is flying in the air! We'll catch it, put it under the pile, and blow to start the fire.
" Yes, yes!" said the other monkeys and ran towards it. A sparrow sitting in her nest on the tree was watching this. She couldn't keep quiet and said, "Monkey brothers, that is not a spark; it is a firefly."
One monkey glared at the sparrow in rage, "Foolish bird, stay hidden in your nest quietly. Don't try to teach us." Meanwhile, one monkey jumped and managed to capture the firefly by forming a cup with his palms. They placed the firefly under the pile, and all the monkeys started blowing into the pile from all sides.
The sparrow advised, "Brothers! You are making a mistake. The fire will not start from a firefly. Strike two stones together, make a spark, and start the fire."
The monkeys glared at the sparrow. When the fire didn't start, the sparrow spoke again, "Brothers! Take my advice, at least try rubbing two dry sticks together."
All the monkeys were annoyed because they couldn't light the fire. One monkey, furious, stepped forward, caught the sparrow, and slammed her against the tree trunk. The sparrow fluttered down and died.