"The plan I have thought of is this: You have all of you seen how often Posy sits on the piazza and cuts dolls' dresses out of bright-colored pieces of ribbon and silk. Now there is nothing in the world, I have noticed, that pleases a little girl so much as those bright colors, and we will take advantage of that. The next time Posy brings out her ribbons we must get her out of the way long enough for one of you to steal the prettiest one, and then the sparrow can use it to entice the child Nancy with."
"But who is to steal the ribbon?" asked the house-cat
"I should say the sparrow was the one to do that," answered Mrs. Polly; "he can fly down and pick one out and fly off with it."
"Very good," said the sparrow; "but how are you going to make Posy leave her ribbons long enough?"
"I've called 'em so many times lately,"
