126 THE SWALLOW 



Pretty was my nest, 

 When away I flew ; 

 Ruin covers all, 

 As I come anew ! 



Soon she discovers that it is her enemy, 

 the sparrow, who is the robber, and she cries 

 out in anger : — 



My house was full of food, 

 When I went away last fall ; 

 And now, come home, I find 

 A sparrow's eaten all! 



Overcome with grief, she looks about to 

 discover some friend to whom she may 

 tell her troubles, but, instead of a 

 Jriend, she spies another enemy 

 and she sighs : — 



How nice it would be. 

 How nice it would be, 

 To sit down and chat 

 With my neighbor, were 



she 

 Not a horrible cat ! 

 Not a horrible cat ! 



At last, as she cannot gossip with her neighbor, 

 she goes out for a walk and meets with another 

 misfortune. Listen to her woeful tale : — 



