Page:Chinese Fables and Folk Stories.djvu/104

100 to live with us, but you wood larks are our enemies, and our children fear to come near you."

The birds made no reply to the hen's scolding. They sang and were happy and did not seem to notice her.

This only made the hen more angry, and when the cat passed by her door, she said, "Good morning, Mrs. Cat. Do you know we have much trouble since our enemies, the wood larks, came here to live? They are always trying to get out of the cage. I think they want to hurt my children—or yours," she added slyly.

"Do you hear their harsh ugly voices all the day? I can not sleep, I can not find any comfort here since those birds have come." "Our master's son brought them," said the cat, "and we can not help ourselves. What would you do about it?"

"I told you," said the hen, "that I do not like those birds. They should be killed or driven away."

"I do not like them very well either," replied the cat. "Cats and birds do not go well together. Cats like birds to eat you know, but then men like chickens. If you do not want them here, we can do this. At midday, when the master's son lets the birds out for a bath, they sit a while in the sun to dry their feathers. When you see them come out, call 'Cluck, cluck,' and I will come and catch them or drive them away."