Too Aftuk of a Good Tking 



necessaries of life ; but friendship prevailed, and 

 he suppressed himself. They returned to the 

 house a trifle dejected, and trying to keep 

 the tempers which those thoughtless birds had 

 roused. 



The next day the Poet arose very early in 

 the morning, to gather strawberries for breakfast 

 before the birds should have eaten them all 

 But the birds had got up still earlier, and were 

 there before him ; and now for the first time 

 they aroused in his gentle heart a mild feeling 

 of resentment. He stood there and even ex- 

 postulated with them aloud ; but they gave him 

 little heed, and as soon as his back was turned 

 they were down on his strawberries again. 

 That day he was persuaded to have a boy in. 

 who was to come next morning at daybreak, 

 and keep the birds away till after breakfast; 

 then (so the Poet bargained) they should have 

 their turn. Joseph Bates, with much satisfac- 

 tion, but nobly concealing his triumph, undertook 

 to procure a trusty and humane boy. 



Next day the Poet in the early morning threw 

 open his window and looked out on his garden. 



