OVERTURE BY THE BIRDS 5 



"I know all about it," cried the Swift, bracketting 

 himself against the telegraph pole for a long talk. 



" I've seen the House People! " screamed the Catbird. 



" They wish well to the Bird People, and we shall be 

 happier than before ! " squeaked the Swift, breathless 

 and eager. "Listen! " and the birds all huddled to- 

 gether. "This morning when I flew down the chim- 

 ney, wondering if I should dare build my nest there 

 again, I heard a noise on the outside, so I dropped as 

 far as I could and listened. 



44 A voice said, 4 Mammy Bun, we will leave this 

 chimney for the birds ; do not make a fire here until 

 after they have nested! ' I was so surprised that I 

 nearly fell into the grate." 



" And I," interrupted the Catbird, " was looking in 

 the window and saw the man who spoke, and Mammy 

 Bun too. She is a very big person, wide like a wood- 

 chuck, and has a dark face like the House People down 

 in the warm country where I spend the winter." 



44 There are children at the farm, I've seen them too," 

 cried the Phoebe, who usually lived under the eaves of 

 the cow-shed; 44 three of them one big girl, one little 

 girl, and a BOY! " 



44 1 told you so! " lisped the Barn Swallow; and a 

 chorus of ohs and ahs arose that sounded like a strange 

 message buzzing along the wires. 



44 The BOY has a pocket full of pebbles and a shooter," 

 gasped the Phcebe, pausing as if nothing more shocking 

 could be said. 



44 Yes, but the big girl coaxed the shooter away from 

 him," said the Chimney Swift, who was quite provoked 

 because .his story had been interrupted; 44 she said, 



