Белая птичка
The Thrush’s Nest
Whenhisstockingwasfull,Solomoncalculatedthathewouldbeabletoretireonacompetency.Peternowgavehimapound.Hecutitoffhisbank-notewithasharpstick.
ThismadeSolomonhisfriendforever,andafterthetwohadconsultedtogethertheycalledameetingofthethrushes.Youwillseepresentlywhythrushesonlywereinvited.
TheschemetobeputbeforethemwasreallyPeter’s,butSolomondidmostofthetalking,becausehesoonbecameirritableifotherpeopletalked.Hebeganbysayingthathehadbeenmuchimpressedbythesuperioringenuityshownbythethrushesinnest-building,andthisputthemintogood-humouratonce,asitwasmeanttodo;forallthequarrelsbetweenbirdsareaboutthebestwayofbuildingnests.Otherbirds,saidSolomon,omittedtolinetheirnestswithmud,andasaresulttheydidnotholdwater.Herehecockedhisheadasifhehadusedanunanswerableargument;but,unfortunately,aMrs.Finchhadcometothemeetinguninvited,andshesqueakedout,“Wedon’tbuildneststoholdwater,buttoholdeggs,”andthenthethrushesstoppedcheering,andSolomonwassoperplexedthathetookseveralsipsofwater.
“Consider,”hesaidatlast,“howwarmthemudmakesthenest.”
“Consider,”criedMrs.Finch,“thatwhenwatergetsintothenestitremainsthereandyourlittleonesaredrowned.”
ThethrushesbeggedSolomonwithalooktosaysomethingcrushinginreplytothis,butagainhewasperplexed.
“Tryanotherdrink,”suggestedMrs.Finchpertly.Katewashername,andallKatesaresaucy.
Solomondidtryanotherdrink,anditinspiredhim.
