"Oh boys, don't throw stones at that poor bird." said an old man.
"Why, sir?" said a little boy, "She is so noisy."
"Yes, but she uses the voice which God gave her. And it is probably pleasant to her friends. Besides, I am afraid the stone will rebound, and hurt you as long as you live!"
"Rebound?"
"Well, let me tell you a story." The old man said. "Fifty years ago, I was a boy like you. I liked throwing stones and I could throw accurately (准确地). One day, I went to visit Mr. and Mrs. Smith, an old couple in the countryside, with my parents. And I happened to see so many swallows (燕子) busily making nests under the roof of their house."
"The Smiths warmly told me that one of the swallows had come to their house for seven years and it was a mother swallow. That day, she had just returned after a long trip. She was building her nest in the some place and she planned to raise her young children there."
"Half an hour later, the mother swallow sat upon a stick near her nest and had a rest, looking at me trustfully. For fun, I tried my skill upon her."
"Unluckily, she was shot on the head, and dropped dead!"
"Then all day long, her mate (配偶) flew about, and was so sad. I was heartbroken and regretful when seeing this. And I began to hate myself."
"The Smiths finally found out all of these. They didn't say a word to me on the matter. They just buried the swallow silently."
"Now the couple have passed away. I have carried the deep wound in my memory for fifty years."
"Don't you see how that stone rebounded and hit me? Yet if I could prevent you from throwing a stone that may rebound and deeply hurt your later, I shall be very cheerful."
The boys at once dropped the stones in their hands.
