Once upon a time a Cat and a Parrot owned a field together. One day the
Cat said to the Parrot, “Come, friend, ’tis time to till the field.”
Said the Parrot, “I can’t come now, because I am whetting my bill on the
branch of a mango-tree.”
So the Cat went alone and plowed the field. When it was plowed the Cat
went again to the Parrot and said, “Come, friend, let us sow the corn.”
Said the Parrot, “I can’t come now, because I am whetting my bill on the
branch of a mango-tree.”
So the Cat went alone and sowed the corn. The corn took root, and
sprouted, and put forth the blade, and the ear, and the ripe corn in the
ear. Then the Cat went again to the Parrot and said, “Come, friend, let
us go and gather in the harvest.”
Said the Parrot, “I can’t come now, because I am whetting my bill on the
branch of a mango-tree.”
So the Cat went alone and gathered in the harvest. She put it away in
barns and made ready for the threshing. Then she went again to the Parrot
and said, “Come, friend, let us winnow the grain from the chaff.”
Said the Parrot, “I can’t come now, because I am whetting my bill on the
branch of a mango-tree.”
So the Cat went alone and winnowed the grain from the chaff. Then she
went again to the Parrot and said, “Come, friend, the grain is all
winnowed and sifted. Come and let us divide it between us.”
“I will,” shrieked the Parrot so loudly that he lost his balance, fell
from the branch of the mango-tree, and cracked open his poll. That put an
end to him. So the Cat had all the grain for herself.
—EASTERN FOLK TALE