THE NEW NEST. 171 



Mr. Wren flew up, and in his turn examined the shoe; then, 

 nodding his head, he replied: — 



" Bestest and sweet. 

 It is really complete." 



ISo-w there was no time to lose, for it was already afternoon, and 

 che nest must be well under way before night; so the two wrens 

 flew hither and thither, and brought this and that, and worked all 

 day. 



But where was Janet all this time? Oh, Janet had seen the 

 calf, and then George had taken her and Billy oft' in the cart to 

 the village, and they did not get home till tea-time. 



" Why, Janet," said her mother, " where is your other shoe, 

 child? " 



Janet looked down in surprise, for she had actually forgotten 

 about her shoe. 



"I — I left it behind one of the columns of the veranda, " she 

 said. " I will go and get it." 



She went, and there, lo and behold ! were two tiny brown heads 

 peeping out of the shoe. Mr. and Mrs. Wren were just going to 

 sleep in their new nest. Janet stared and stared, and then she 

 laughed, and ran in to tell her mother. And, " Mothei'," she said, 

 " mayn't they keep the shoe, please? It is an old one, you know, 

 and has a hole in the side ; and they look so happy and comfort- 

 able, — the little things ! " 



Her mother went to look, and decided that it would be a shame 

 to turn the pretty birds out, and that they might keep the shoe for 

 theii- own. 



" They might have consulted me! " said the shoe. " I am accus- 

 tomed to exercise, and cannot do well without it. I shall crack, I 

 know I shall. I wish I had stayed in the shoe-shop ! " 



