280 



WISE LITTLE SPARROWS. 



ing for worms, or took their baths in the fountain without fear, 



while he was cutting grass or cleaning up leaves. When he Avas 



away they kept up in 



the trees, only flying 



down once in a while, 



when nobody was in 



sight. 



One morning, very 

 early, a tall, straight 

 old gentleman walked ^ ♦" 

 through the square. He ~ ^ 

 was a very odd-looking -^ 

 man. The little birds 

 noticed it, and talked a 

 good deal about him, up 

 in their trees. 



He was so large that 

 the red-faced man looked 

 like a little boy beside 

 him. His gray hair was long 

 his eyes were bright and blac 

 heavy cane in his right hand, 

 him look quite fierce. 



He saw the little birds and whistled to them; but they had lived 

 too long to trust anybody but their red-faced friend. 



Every day after that, at five o'clock, when the keeper opened the 

 iron gate, the tall man walked through the square. As he did so 

 he took some bread from his pocket and scattered crumbs along the 

 broad walk. At first the little birds paid no attention to him ; 

 then they began to come down after he had gone; next they 

 ventured afer a crumb before he was well out of the square. As 

 they found he never hurt them, a few of the boldest began to eat 

 their breakfast at his very feet. The saucy sparrows had grown 

 so bold that they would perch on his head, his shoulders, and his 

 hands, and even tangle their claws in his long gray hair. 



The sparrows learned to know his figure as he came down the 

 street. They would wait for him by the gate, eager for their break- 



