The Burgess EM Book for Children 



thought Peter, "for there isn't anybody else with 

 such beautiful shoulder patches." | 



"What's the news, Peter Rabbit?" cried Red- 

 wing, coming over to sit very near Peter. 



"There isn't much," replied Peter, "excepting 

 that Teeter the Sandpiper has four eggs just a 

 little way from here." 



Redwing chuckled. "That is no news, Peter," 

 said he. "Do you suppose that I live neighbor 

 to Teeter and don't know where his nest is and 

 all about his affairs ? There isn't much going on 

 around the Smiling Pool that I don't know, I can 

 tell you that." 



Peter looked a little disappointed, because there 

 is nothing he likes better than to be the bearer of 

 news. "I suppose," said he politely, "that you 

 will be building a nest pretty soon yourself, Red- 

 wing." 



Redwing chuckled softly. It was a happy, 

 contented sort of chuckle. "No, Peter," said 

 he. "I am not going to build a nest." 



"What?" exclaimed Peter, and his two long 

 ears stood straight up with astonishment. 



"No," replied Redwing, still chuckling. "I'm 

 not going to build a nest. You see, Mrs. Red- 

 wing and I already have a nest, and if you want 

 to know a little secret, we have four as pretty eggs 

 as ever were laid." 



[70] 



