Jenny Wren Arrives 



Sammy Jay and Tommy Tit the Chickadee and 

 Drummer the Woodpecker and a few others have 

 a little sense; they don't go off on long, foolish 

 journeys. But the rest of you " 



"Tut, tut, tut, tut, tut!" interrupted Jenny 

 Wren. "You don't know what you are talking 

 about, and no one sounds so silly as one who 

 tries to talk about something he knows nothing 

 about." 



Peter chuckled. "That tongue of yours is 

 just as sharp as ever," said he. "But just the 

 same it is good to hear it. We certainly would 

 miss it. I was beginning to be a little worried 

 for fear something might have happened to you 

 so that you wouldn't be back here this summer. 

 You know me well enough, Jenny Wren, to know 

 that you can't hurt me with your tongue, sharp 

 as it is, so you may as well save your breath to 

 tell me a few things I want to know. Now if 

 you are as fond of the Old Orchard as you pre- 

 tend to be, why did you ever leave it?" 



Jenny Wren's bright eyes snapped. "Why do 

 you eat ? " she asked tartly. 



"Because I'm hungry," replied Peter promptly. 



"What would you eat if there were nothing to 

 eat?" snapped Jenny. 



"That's a silly question," retorted Peter. 



"No more silly than asking me why I leave 

 [3] 



