The Burgess Bird Book for Children 



I'm too busy. It is high time our nest was finished, 

 and Mrs. Sweetvoice will lose her patience if I 

 don't get this grass over there pretty quick." 



"Where is your nest; in a tree?" asked Peter 

 innocently. 



"That's telling," declared Sweetvoice. "Not 

 a living soul knows where that nest is, excepting 

 Mrs. Sweetvoice and myself. This much I will 

 tell you, Peter: it isn't in a tree. And I'll tell 

 you this much more : it is in a hoofprint of Bossy 

 the Cow." 



"In a what?" cried Peter. 



"In a hoofprint of Bossy the Cow," repeated 

 Sweetvoice, chuckling softly. "You know when 

 the ground was wet and soft early this spring, 

 Bossy left deep footprints wherever she went. 

 One of these makes the nicest kind of a place for 

 a nest. I think we have picked out the very 

 best one on all the Green Meadows. Now run 

 along, Peter Rabbit, and don't bother me any 

 more. I've got too much to do to sit here talking. 

 Perhaps I'll come over to the edge of the dear 

 Old Briar-patch and sing to you a while just 

 after jolly, round, red Mr. Sun goes to bed behind 

 the Purple Hills. I just love to sing then." 



"I'll be watching for you," replied Peter. 

 "You don't love to sing any better than I love 

 to hear you. I think that is the best time of all 

 [28] 



