Starling. "That suits me! Off I go, I like a cosy warm nest. It shall be in that old plum-tree in the orchard, on the side of the hill.
Feathers and down to make cosy and warm,
That's the nest to keep us from harm!"
Magpie. "Well, Birds, have you seen how I made my nest? Do you think you know how?—Why, where are all the Birds? They couldn't wait until I'd finished. Only you, Turtle-Dove, left!"
Turtle-Dove. "Take two, Taffy, take two—o—o—o!"
Magpie. "Here I put a twig across. But not two—one's enough!"
Turtle-Dove. "Take two, Taffy, take two—o—o—o!"
Magpie. "One's enough I tell you, do you not see how I lay it across?"
Turtle-Dove. "Take two, Taffy, take two—o—o—o!"
Magpie. "Here I fly away from my nest for awhile! I will teach no more Birds to build nests. I cannot teach a silly Turtle-Dove who will not learn. I heard him sing just now as I turned around,
| Turtle-Dove. | "Take two, Taffy, take two—o—o—o, |
"I shall never forget the patience, the gentleness, the skill, and the firmness with which she first taught me to walk alone. I mean to walk on all fours, of course; the upright manner of my present walking was only learned afterwards. As this infant effort, however, is one of my earliest recollections, I have mentioned it before all the rest, and if you please, I will give you a little account of it."
- ↑ See note, p. 217.
