Sheltering Wings

The air was bone chillingly cold. The sound of the sleds filled the streets with winter cheer. Though the town was filled with joy, the air was menacing to the lovely little animals who could not seek shelter. The streets were quiet in mid-afternoon. Workers hurried to their offices; every dog remained at home; not a bird was to be seen or heard. The sparrows had been forced to hide themselves from the cold. The doves found protected corners and huddled together as best they could, escaping the bitter cold. A dozen or more doves gathered close under the corners of the houses, trying to protect each other from the cold. Many of the sparrows did not have shelter and the doves had little room to stay warm. “Dear doves,” chirped the sparrows, “won’t you let us nestle near you? Your bodies look so large and warm.” “But your coats are frosted with cold. We cannot let you come near us, for we are almost frozen now,” murmured the doves sadly. “But we are perishing.” “So are we.” “It looks so warm near your broad wings, gentle doves. Oh, let us come! We are so little, and so very, very cold!” “Okay, Come,” cooed a dove at last, and a trembling little sparrow fluttered close and nestled under the broad white wing. “Come on dear sparrow,” cooed another dove, and another little sparrow found comfort. “Come here” echoed another warm-hearted bird, and another, until at last more than half the doves were sheltering small, shivering sparrows beneath their own half-frozen wings. “My sisters, you are very foolish,” said the other doves. “You mean well, but why do you risk your own beautiful lives to give life to the sparrows?” “Ah! they were so small, and so very, very cold,” murmured the doves. “Many of us might freeze this cruel night; while we have life let us share its warmth with those in bitter need.” Colder and colder the day grew. The sun went down behind them, with soft and radiant beauty, but the wind made their blood run cold around the house where the doves and sparrows fought for life. An hour after sunset a man walked up to his house. As the door of the house closed heavily behind him, a little child watching from the window saw something fall from the roof to the floor. “Oh, papa,” she cried in surprise, “a poor frozen dove has fallen on our porch!” When he stepped out to pick up the fallen dove the father saw the others under the crevices. They were no longer able to move or to utter a cry, so he brought them in and placed them in a room where they might slowly revive. Soon all of the doves, sparrows, and even the dove who fell could coo gratefully, and raise their stiffened wings. “Look, papa!” cried the child. “Each dove was holding a poor little sparrow under their wing, close to their heart.” Colder and fiercer swept the wind, but all the doves and sparrows lived to rejoice the glowing sunshine of the days to come.