Page:Story of the robins.djvu/49

 Rh happy together; Dicky and I were trying to sing, when suddenly we heard a noise against the wall, and presently a great round red face appeared before the nest, with a pair of enormous staring eyes, a very large beak, and below that a wide mouth with two rows of bones, that looked as if they could grind us all to pieces in an instant. About the top of this round face, and round the sides, hung something black, but not like feathers. When the two staring eyes had looked at us for some time, the whole thing disappeared."

"I cannot at all conceive from your description, Robin, what this thing could be," said the mother; "but perhaps it may come again." "Oh! I hope not!" cried Flapsy; "I shall die with fear if it does." "Why so, my love?" said her mother; "has it done you any harm?" "I cannot say it has" replied Flapsy. "Well, then, you do very wrong, my dear, in giving way to such apprehensions. You must strive to get the better of this fearful disposition. When you go abroad in the world you will see many strange objects, and if you are terrified at every appearance which you cannot account for, you will live a most unhappy life. Endeavour to be good, and then you need not fear anything. But here comes your father; perhaps he will be able to explain