Page:A Study of Fairy Tales.djvu/295

Rh Place. . . . Madge Magpie's Nest up in a Tree-top.

Characters: Madge Magpie, the Teacher; Thrush, Blackbird, Owl, Sparrow, Starling, and Turtle-Dove.

All the Birds. "We have come to you, Madge Magpie, to ask you to teach us how to build nests. All the Birds tell how clever you are at building nests."

Magpie. "Make a circle round about the foot of this old pear-tree. I will sit upon this limb near my nest and show you how to do it. First I take some mud and make a fine round cake with it."

Thrush. "Oh, that 's how it's done, is it? I'll hurry home! Goodbye, Birds, I can't stay another minute!

Magpie. "Next I take some twigs and arrange them about the mud."

Blackbird. "Now I know all about it. Here I go, I'm off to make my nest in the cherry-tree in Mr. Smith's cornfield!

Magpie. "See, here I put another layer of mud over the twigs."

Wise Owl. "Oh! That 's quite obvious. Strange I never thought of that before. Farewell, come to see me at the old elm-tree beside the gray church!

Magpie. "See these long twigs. I just twine them round the outside."

Sparrow. "The very thing. I'll do it this very day. I can pick some up on my way home. I'll choose the spout that looks down over the school-yard; then I can see the children at play. They must like me for they never chase me away or hit me.

Magpie. "And see these little feathers and soft stuff. What a comfortable, cosy lining for the nest they make!"