Page:An argosy of fables.djvu/378

 312 HUNTSMAN, bearing his gun a-field,

Went whistling merrily,

When he heard the blackest of black crows

Call out from a withered tree:—

"You are going to kill the thievish birds,

And I would, if I were you;

But you must not touch my family.

Whatever else you do."

"I'm only going to kill the birds

That are eating up my crop;

And if your young ones do such things,

Be sure they'll have to stop."

"O," said the crow, "my children

Are the best ones ever born

There isn't one among them all

Would steal a grain of corn."

"But how shall I know which ones they are?

Do they resemble you?"

"O, no," said the crow, "they're the prettiest birds,

And the whitest, ever flew."