MOLLIS AND THE SPARROWS. 273 



Towai'ds the end of summer, when the nights began to get cool, 

 the lad J was walking in some pleasure-grounds imder a grove of 

 trees close by. All at once she heard the voice of the parrot with 

 the well-known words, "Look here, stupid ! " 



"Polly! Polly! Pretty Polly!" said the lady. "Come and have 

 a bit of sugar ! Come, Polly ! " 



Polly flew down, and was soon safe in the lady's hands. Polly 

 had plenty of sugar when she was safe again in her cage. 



MOLLIE AND THE SPARROWS. 



It was snowing very hard. The white flakes came tumbling 

 down as though they were in a hm'ry to get here. The wind blew, 

 and the air was very cold. But little Mollie did not care for the 

 cold. She sat on the rug by the fire playing with her kitten. 



Mamma sat close beside her, knitting, and Mollie felt very warm 

 and comfoi'table. 



Pretty soon she heard a great chirping. She ran to the window 

 and looked out. On the rose-frame, by the piazza, sat six pretty 

 birds. They looked right in at the window at Mollie, and did not 

 seem at all afraid. Their feathers were ruffled by the wind. They 

 drew up first one foot then the other under them, as if trying to get 

 them warm. 



" Cheep, cheep, cheep," chirped the sparrows, looking at Mollie. 



"Dear little birdies! " said Mollie. "May they come in and get 

 warm, mamma?" 



"Their pretty feathers keep the cold out; but they are hungry," 

 said mamma. 



" May I feed them, mamma? " 



"Yes, Molhe; run and get a piece of bread." 



Mollie soon brought the bread, which she broke up into small bits. 

 Then mamma raised the window softly and threw out the crumbs. 

 The birds all flew away. 



"Keep very still, Mollie," said mamma; "they will soon come 

 back." 



Mollie stood by the window as still as a little mouse. 



