In a nest, set in a rice field, lived a mother bird and her two littlechicks. Every morning, the mother bird flew away to forage forfood. Before going, she always tbld the chicks, "Don't go out.Danger stalks everywhere. Stay inside. Then no harm will cometo you. Listen to every little sound, including any conversationyou overhear. For it is time for harvest. We must leave this placebefore the men come to harvest the crop."That day, a little after the bird had flown off came the farmer andhis son. They walked close to where the nest lay. The farmerlooked atthe crop. Then he told his son, "It is time for harvest. Wemust get help from the village. We will request our neighboursto help us." The son nodded his head. The two walked away.The chicks reported the conversation to their mother. She repliedcoolly, "No need to worry. Not as yet." The chicks left it at that.They were hungry. They opened their beaks. Mother bird startedfeeding them.Next day, as usual, she warned the chicks and left. The farmerand the son turned up a little later. The chicks peeped out of thenest. They heard the farmer say, "The villagers are busy. Theyhave no time to help us. We must get outside help."When the mother bird returned, the chicks told her, what theyhad heard. But she said, "Don't worry. We still have time to shift."A few days later, the farmer and the son visited the field again.The farmer looked worried and said to his son, "If we don'tharvest the crop quickly, we will suffer losses. Since we can't gethelp, tomorrow we must harvest the crop ourselves." "Okay,"said the boy.That evening, when the bird returned, the chicks told her whatthey had heard. Mother bird fed the chicks, and said, "This timethe farmer is serious. He will cut the crops tomorrow. I think youare strong enough to fly. Follow me. We will go to our new homeon the fork of the gulmohar tree over there.""How can you be so certain?" The chicks asked."Because this time, the farmer and his son have decided to cut thecrop themselves. They have realised that self help is the besthelp," said the mother bird, leading the chicks to their new home.