Merwan was about six years old. Finding a baby sparrow that had dropped out of its nest in the courtyard, he picked it up and nursed it and cared for it for some days, but the baby sparrow died in spite of it all. Little Merwan was very saddened by it and cried over it.

Then he, along with his other little friends, made a bier for it with two sticks and a handkerchief, carried the sparrow on it to the hole they dug under a rose bush, and buried it. After covering it over with earth, Merwan put flowers on the grave and solemnly recited a little prayer while his friends stood around with bowed heads.