There once was a dog, a very good dog, but oh, so hungry! His name was Patch, and his tummy rumbled like a tiny drum. His master, a shepherd, wasn't very kind and often forgot to feed him. Patch felt weak and sad.

One sunny morning, a little sparrow with bright, curious eyes saw Patch lying by the roadside. "Chirp? Why so droopy, doggy friend?" tweeted the sparrow.
Patch sighed a big, woofy sigh. "I'm just so hungry, little bird. My master doesn't give me enough to eat."
"Oh dear!" chirped the sparrow. "That won't do at all! I have an idea. Wait right here!"

The sparrow zipped off to the town. He flew into a butcher's shop and saw a juicy piece of meat on the counter. Quick as a wink, he pecked at it and tugged until it tumbled to the floor. Then, he cleverly pushed it out the door and flew back to Patch. "Look what I found!" he chirped proudly.
Patch's tail gave a little wag. He gobbled up the meat. "Oh, thank you, friend!"

"That's not all!" said the sparrow. He flew to the baker's shop. A fresh, crusty roll sat on a windowsill. *Peck, peck, push!* The roll tumbled down. The sparrow brought it to Patch.
Patch ate the bread happily. "You are the kindest bird I've ever met!"
From that day on, the dog and the sparrow were the best of friends. They decided to see the world together.

They trotted and flew, side by side, down the long, dusty roads. One afternoon, Patch felt very tired. "I think I'll take a little nap here by the road," he woofed. The sparrow perched on a nearby fence post to keep watch.

Soon, a big wagon came rattling along, pulled by three strong horses. A grumpy-looking carter was driving it.
"Hey, Mr. Carter!" chirped the sparrow. "Please be careful! My friend the dog is sleeping by the road!"
The carter scowled. "Hmph! Out of my way, silly bird! I don't stop for stray dogs!" And he cracked his whip, urging his horses on.
"No, stop!" cried the sparrow, but it was too late. The heavy wagon wheels rolled right over poor Patch.
The little sparrow flew down, his heart full of sadness. His dear friend Patch was gone.

"You will pay for this, cruel carter!" the sparrow chirped, his tiny voice shaking with anger.
He followed the wagon. The carter had a big barrel of wine on his wagon. The sparrow flew to it and pecked and pecked at the wooden stopper until *pop!* it came out. All the wine gurgled out onto the road.
"My wine! What happened to my wine?" shouted the carter when he noticed the empty barrel.
The sparrow then flew to the head of the first horse and started pecking at its eyes. The horse reared up in pain and surprise. The carter, furious, grabbed his axe. "I'll get you, you nasty bird!" he yelled, swinging the axe. But he missed the sparrow and *WHACK!* he hit his own horse. The horse fell down.

"Oh no!" cried the carter.
The sparrow zipped to the second horse and pecked its eyes. Again, the horse bucked and kicked. The carter swung his axe wildly. *WHACK!* He hit his second horse.
Now the carter was really angry and very worried. The sparrow flew to the third horse and did the same. The carter, in a rage, swung his axe one last time. *WHACK!* And his third horse was gone too.

Now the carter had no horses to pull his wagon. He had to leave it by the road and walk home, grumbling and muttering all the way.
When he finally reached his house, tired and cross, who did he see? The little sparrow, sitting on his kitchen table, pecking at a piece of cheese!
"Wife! Wife!" the carter roared. "Bring me the axe! I'll get that bird if it's the last thing I do!"
His wife came running with the axe. "There you are, you little troublemaker!" she shouted, swinging the axe at the sparrow.
But the sparrow was too quick! He darted up into the air. The wife swung, missed the bird, and *THUD!* The axe hit the carter instead.
And that was the end of the cruel carter.

The little sparrow, having made sure the carter paid for his unkindness, chirped one last time for his friend Patch, and then flew out the window, off to find new skies.

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