My mother was a very wise bird: so, instead of struggling to get away, she remained so quiet, that Mrs. Pussy soon thought she must be dead. Before long she put her down upon the grass, that she might admire at her leisure the nice fat sparrow she had caught for her dinner. All at once up flew my mother, and in an instant was far beyond the reach of the cat. Now I thought I was old enough to have a family of my own. So I chose me a little sparrow-wife; but I had to fight several battles before I could conquer all my rivals. My bravery won her heart; and I think she has been well content with her choice. We built our nest, and soon I had the pleasure of seeing in it five bluish-white, brown-and-gray-dotted eggs, and, fourteen days after, five pretty sparrows,--three sons, and two daughters. [Illustration] One saucy rogue, with a golden bill, we lost. Like me, he was caught; but he never regained his liberty. A friendly little maiden was his mistress, who made him so tame, that he would eat from her hand. She gave him so many dainties, that he became too fat, and died. I saw how the little maiden dug him a grave in her garden. Bitterly weeping, she placed him therein, covered him with earth, and planted a cross of flowers on the little mound. [Illustration] Our other children, one after the other, founded homes of their own, and all lived good and useful sparrow-lives. The multitude of my grandchildren I am no longer able to count. FROM THE GERMAN. "THE seed that springs, and the bird that sings, And the shining summer sun, The tiny bee, and the mighty sea, God made them, every one." LITTLE MISCHIEF. XIII. WHAT mischief was there for Bessie to-day? The fish in her mother's aquarium had not been benefited by the hot bath which Bessie had given them; but that was no reason, thought she, why a bath would not be a good thing for her new doll Felicia. [Illustration] She had a little doll bath-tub made of tin. So she put it on a little table, and filled it from a jug of hot water which happened to be on the hearth. Then she undressed Felicia, and, holding her up, said, "Now, little lady, you are going to have a nice warm bath: so be good." XIV. Having put Felicia in the bath-tub, Bessie sat down in a chair before her, and said, "There are not many dolls, little lady, that have such a kind, loving mother as I am. You ought to be very good and grateful." [Illustration] Here dolly slipped down in the bath-tub, and her nice blooming face was all soaked in the hot water. When Bessie took her out, you would hardly have known Felicia for the same doll. Her head, which was of wax, was quite ruined; and her whole body was out of shape and spoiled. Bessie ran crying to her mother: but her mother said, "You do not deserve to have another doll." [Illustration: Music] [Illustration] Words from "The Nursery." THE KITTEN