50 Takes the Nest to School. [CHAP. II. 
served a man and a boy placing a long ladder against the 
house. Tom stopped, and, guessing what was about to be 
done, he intended to ask the man for the nest and its con- 
tents. The man was about to ascend the ladder, when, aft- 
er feeling his pockets and finding that something had been 
forgotten, he sent the boy back to the shed for something 
or other—most probably a trowel. Then, having struck a 
light and set fire to his pipe, the man betook himself to the 
church-yard, which was near at hand. 
A thought now struck Tom. Might he not take the nest 
himself without waiting for it, and perhaps without getting 
it, after all? He looked about. He looked into the church- 
yard gate, nearly opposite. He saw nobody. The coast 
was clear. Tom darted across the street and went rapidly 
up the ladder. Somebody shrieked to him from a win- 
dow on the other side. It staggered him at first. But he 
climbed upward; got to the nest, and, after some wriggling 
and twisting, he pulled it away, and got down before either 
the man or the boy had returned. 
It was eggs that he wanted, but, lo and behold! here was 
a nest of five well-fledged birds. Instead of taking the birds 
home, Tom was foolish enough to take them with him to 
school. He contrived to get the nest into the school unob- 
served, and put it below the form on which he was seated, 
never thinking that the little things would get hungry, or 
try to make their escape. All went on well for about an 
hour. Then there was a slight commotion. A chirrup was 
heard. And presently the throats of all were opened— 
“Chirrup! chirrup!” Before the master could get the 
words “ What’s that?” out of his mouth, the birds them- 
selves answered him by leaving their nest and fluttering 
round the school-room, the boys running after them! ‘“Si- 
lence! Back to your seats!” cried the master. There was 
now stillness in the school, except the fluttering of the birds. 
The culprit was called to the front. “This is more of 
your work, Edward, is it not?” “ Yes, sir.” “And did I 
