A Traditional Flemish Tale on

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A Traditional Flemish Taleon
How the finches got their colours
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Long. Long ago when the moon and the stars were
young, all the birds were grey.
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One day, the Lord of the Birds made a beautiful
rainbow.
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Then he told each bird to choose one of the
glowing colours.
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At once, the birds began to push their way to the
front.

• Me first, called the canary, I want yellow.
• Black for me, sang the blackbird.
• Pink, pink, pink, cried the flamingo.
• I want green, screeched the parrot.

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The birds pushed and shoved and screeched until
all the colours had gone.
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Soon they were flying around and showing off
their beautiful new feathers
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Suddenly,

• The Lord of the Birds saw that the little finches
  were still grey.
• Why didnt you ask for a colour? he said.

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We waited our turn, said the finches. Now all
the colours have gone and we shall have to stay
grey forever.
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Oh no, said the Lord of the Birds. I will not
let you stay grey. You were very polite and did
not push and shove and screech.
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Then the Lord of the Birds told the birds of the
air to fly to him
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The Lord of the birds pointed to the finches.
You have taken all the colours and left them with
nothing, he said. Then all the birds of the air
were very ashamed.
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The Lord of the Birds took a bit of colour from
each bird and gave it to the finches. When he had
finished, their feathers shone with.
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All the colours of the rainbow!
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So that is how the finches, who didnt push and
shove and screech, become the prettiest of all
the birds in the air.
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Performed by 11i pupils

• At Rumworth School in Bolton.
• As part of our Comenius links with our friends in
  Europe.