Maniappa, a hardworking farmer, had a sparrow family nesting in his field. As harvest approached, the sparrow chicks wanted to leave, fearing the farmer.  Their mother, however, wisely observed the farmer's attempts to get help—first neighbors, then relatives—all failing. Only when the farmer decided to harvest alone did she signal it was time to go.  The story concludes with the moral: self-help is always respected.