“It must be begun with two sticks, And I thought that they crossed should be.” Said the pie, “Then some straw and moss mix In the way you now see done by me.” “O yes, certainly,” said the jackdaw, “That must follow, of course, I have thought; Though I never before building saw, I guess’d that, without being taught.” “More moss, more straw, and feathers, I place In this manner,” continued the pie. “Yes, no doubt, madam, that is the case; Though no builder myself, so thought I.” * * * * * Whatever she taught them beside, In his turn every bird of them said, Though the nest-making art he ne’er tried He had just such a thought in his head. Still the pie went on showing her art, Till a nest she had built up half-way; She no more of her skill would impart, But in her anger went fluttering away. And this speech in their hearing she made, As she perch’d o’er their heads on a tree: “If ye all were well skill’d in my trade, Pray, why came ye to learn it of me?” When a scholar is willing to learn, He with silent submission should hear; Too late they their folly discern, The effect to this day does appear. For whenever a pie’s nest you see, Her charming warm canopy view, All birds’ nests but hers seem to be A magpie’s nest just cut in two.[A] [A] I beg to inform my young readers that the magpie is the only bird that builds a top to the nest for her young. [Illustration] [Illustration] [Illustration: NURSING] XXII O hush, my little baby brother! Sleep, my love, upon my knee, What though, dear child, we’ve lost our mother? That can never trouble thee. You are but ten weeks old to-morrow; What can you know of our loss? The house is full enough of sorrow; Little baby, don’t be cross. Peace, cry not so, my dearest love! Hush, my baby bird, lie still,-- He’s quiet now, he does not move, Fast asleep is little Will. My only solace, only joy, Since the sad day I lost my mother, Is nursing her own Willy boy, My little orphan brother. [Illustration: THE ROOK AND THE SPARROWS] XXIII