THE HISTORY OF TIP-TOP. 33 



back with their confounded notions. If they don't hurry 

 up, I '11 take matters into my own claws, and be off some 

 day before they know it. Look at those swallows, skim- 

 ming and diving through the blue air ! That 's the way 

 I want to do." 



"But, dear brother, the way to learn to do that is to be 

 good and obedient while we are little, and wait till our 

 parents think it best for us to begin." 



"Shut up your preaching," said Tip-Top; "what do you 

 girls know of flying ? " 



"About as much as you" said Speckle. "However, I'm 

 sure I don't care how soon you take yourself off, for you 

 take up more room than all the rest put together." 



" You mind yourself, Master Speckle, or you '11 get some- 

 thing you don't like," said Tip-Top, still strutting in a very 

 cavalier way on the edge of the nest, and sticking up his 

 little short tail quite valiantly. 



" O my darlings," said the mamma, now fluttering home, 

 " cannot I ever teach you to live in love ? " 



" It 's all Tip-Top's fault," screamed the other birds in a 

 flutter. 



"My fault? Of course, everything in this nest that goes 

 wrong is laid to me," said Tip-Top ; " and I '11 leave it to 

 anybody, now, if I crowd anybody. I 've been sitting out- 

 side, on the very edge of the nest, and there 's Speckle 

 has got my place." 

 3 



