Page:Little Ellie and Other Tales (1850).djvu/31

Rh tucked in the covering all around the exhausted creature, and then fetched the mint leaf which had hitherto served her as a pillow, in order to put it over the poor bird’s head.

The following night she again stole away to the swallow, whom she now found quite revived, but still so weak that he could only open his eyes a few times to look at Ellie, who held a bit of touch wood in her hand that she might see his face.

“A thousand thanks, you pretty little child,” said the sick swallow. “I am so warmed through, that I shall soon recover my strength, and be able to fly out again into the warm sunshine.”

“Oh, it is still much too cold out of doors,” answered Ellie. “It snows and freezes still. You must stay in your warm bed, and I will nurse you and take care of you.”

She now brought the bird some water in a leaf, which he drank; and he told her how he had hurt his wings with some brambles so much that he was not able to