Страна Северного Ветра

           “Omammy,youmakemethinkofalittlepoembabyandIlearnedoutofNorthWind’sbookto-day.Don’tyourememberhowIbotheredyouaboutsomeofthewords?”

           “Yes,child,”saidhismotherheedlessly,thinkingonlyofwhatsheshoulddoafterto-morrow.

           Diamondbeganandrepeatedthepoem,forhehadawonderfulmemory.

           Alittlebirdsatontheedgeofhernest;

           Heryellow-beakssleptassoundastops;

           Thatdayshehaddoneherverybest,

           Andhadfilledeveryoneoftheirlittlecrops.

           Shehadfilledherownjustover-full,

           Andhenceshewasfeelingalittledull.

           “Oh,dear!”shesighed,asshesatwithherhead

           Sunkinherchest,andnoneckatall,

           Whilehercropstuckoutlikeafeatherbed

           Turnedinsideout,andrathersmall;

           “WhatshallIdoifthingsdon’treform?

           Idon’tknowwherethere’sasingleworm.

           “I’vehadtwentyto-day,andthechildrenfiveeach,

           Besidesafewflies,andsomeveryfatspiders:

           NoonewillsayIdon’tdoasIpreach—

           I’moneofthebestofbird-providers;

           Butwhere’stheuse?Wewantastorm—

           Idon’tknowwherethere’sasingleworm.”

           “There’sfiveinmycrop,”saidawee,weebird,

           Whichwokeatthevoiceofhismother’spain;

           “Iknowwherethere’sfive.”Andwiththeword

           Hetuckedinhishead,andwentoffagain.

           “Thefollyofchildhood,”sighedhismother,

           “Hasalwaysbeenmyespecialbother.”

           Theyellow-beakstheysleptonandon—

           TheyneverhadheardofthebogyTo-morrow;

           Butthemothersatoutside,makinghermoan—

           She’llsoonhavetobeg,orsteal,orborrow