170 



THE NEW NEST. 



not stop to put it on now I " she cried. So she caught up the shoe, 

 and poked it in behind one of the columns of the veranda j then 

 off she flew, one shoe off and one shoe on, and Billy boy and Jenny 

 girl went racing down the green lane towards the barn. 



The little black shoe stood up straight behind the column, and 

 wondered what was to become of it. " I cannot walk alone," said 



fr? JTTT^ 



the shoe, " I am not accustomed to it. Must I stay here all daj-? 

 I want to see the black calf, too. I was made out of a black kid 

 myself, I believe; and I remember many boxes in the shoe-shop 

 which were marked " Calf." It would be very interesting to me." 

 Just then a twittering and chirping was heard, and down flew 

 two little brown birds. They were Mr. and Mrs. Wren, and they 

 were looking for a place to build their nest. Mrs. Wren cocked 

 her head on one side and looked up, down, and all around, with 

 her bright eyes. Presently she spied the little black shoe. She 

 flew up to it, and perched on it. She poked her head in. She 

 looked at it on this side and then on that side, and at last she 

 chirped to her husband: — 



" Sweetest and best, 

 I have found s, fine nest.' 



