LESSON 29 WHO STOLE THE BIRD'S NEST

WHO STOLE THE BIRD'S NEST

to-whit listen wouldn't

any-how treat scorn in-trude

1. To-whit! to-whit! to-whee!

　　Will you listen to me?

　Who stole four eggs I laid,

　　And the nice nest I made?"

2. "Not I," said the cow, "Moo-oo!

　　Such a thing I'd never do.

　　I gave you a wisp of hay,

　　But didn't take your nest away.

　　Not I," said the cow, "Moo-oo!

　　Such a thing I'd never do."

3. "To-whir! to-whit! to-whee!

　　Will you listen to me?

　　Who stole four eggs I laid,

　　And the nice nest I made?"

4. "Not I," said the dog, "Bow-wow!

　　I wouldn't be so mean, anyhow!

　　I gave hairs the nest to make,

　　But the nest I did not take.

　　Not I," said the dog, "Bow-wow!

　　I'm not so mean, anyhow."

A LITTLE BOY... WENT AND HID BEHIND THE BED.

5. "To-whit! to-whit! to-whee!

　　Will you listen to me?

　　Who stole four eggs I laid,

　　And the nice nest I made?"

6. "Not I," said the sheep, "Oh, no!

　　I wouldn't treat a poor bird so.

　　I gave wool the nest to line,

　　But the nest was none of mine.

　　Baa! Baa!" said the sheep, "Oh, no,

　　I wouldn't treat a poor bird so."

7. "To-whit! to-whit! to-whee!

　　Will you listen to me?

　　Who stole four eggs I laid,

　　And the nice nest I made?"

THE SWANS

8. "Cluck! Cluck!" said the hen,

　　"Don't ask me again;

　　Why, I haven't a chick

　　Would do such a trick.

　　We all gave you a feather,

　　And you wove them together.

　　I'd scorn to intrude

　　On you and your brood.

　　Cluck! Cluck!" said the hen;

　　"Don't ask me again."

9. A little boy hung down his head,

　　And went and hid behind the bed,

　　For he stole that pretty nest

　　From poor little yellow-breast;

　　And he felt so full of shame,

　　He didn't like to tell his name.

—MARIA L. CHILD