The Language of Birds

A clever boy named Vasily grew up in a merchant's house. He loved listening to birds, and one day he understood the song of a nightingale perched on a branch by…

A clever boy named Vasily grew up in a merchant's house. He loved listening to birds, and one day he understood the song of a nightingale perched on a branch by the window. The bird sang that someday Vasily's father would bring him water and his mother a towel. His parents were surprised, but Vasily explained that the song was not about serving him; it was about a joyful reunion after a long separation.

Several years later, Vasily set off to learn seamanship aboard the ship of a captain he knew, while the nightingale followed along the coast. One day, its anxious trill warned of an approaching squall. The crew took shelter in a quiet bay by a green island, strengthened the mast, and furled the sails while the wind swept across the sea.

In the city of Khvalynsk, a male raven, a female raven, and their young raven were arguing loudly outside the palace windows. The guards could not understand the cause of the commotion, so the ruler asked Vasily to listen. The young man learned that the parents were deciding who would teach their chick to fly and find food. On his advice, the father showed their son the long routes, the mother showed him the safe paths, and the family flew away peacefully together.

The ruler thanked Vasily and invited him to help the city understand the birds of the forest and sea. Together with a young palace gardener, he created gardens, drinking places, and high nesting boxes. Nightingales warned the gardeners of cold nights, gulls helped sailors notice changes in the wind, and ravens found things lost along the road. Khvalynsk became quieter and greener.

One day, Vasily returned to his home town and stopped at a house where the master brought the guest a jug and the mistress brought him a towel. He recognised his parents at once; all three embraced and remembered the old song. Vasily set the table himself, poured tea for them, and told them about his journey. From then on, the family often visited Khvalynsk, while the nightingale sang by the open window about caring for one another.