82 
WILD SCENES AND SONG-BIRDS. 
of boys have tried to bafEe me, as I feared they would — but 
I've set my heart on this, and do not mean to be baffled !" 
" Well, brother, I do hope you may succeed, but how 
could they have come here on this piece of carpet — do you 
think ?" 
" Why, I expect one of those youngsters who saw me 
looking at the nest the morning I found it, has been here 
and discovered it too, and in his anxiety to secure the re- 
wards offered by his sisters, probably, and his desire to 
spite me, he has only been content to wait till they were out 
of the egg, when he has carried them off to his sister, and 
claimed his ginger-bread. She has had compassion enough 
to make him take them back, and the stupid Oaf, having de- 
stroyed the nest, has left them here in this characteristic 
fashion." 
We afterwards heard that this was just how it had occur- 
red. The little things being deposited in their soft, white 
nest, I mounted, and we returned immediately home. My 
sister was immensely inquisitive to know what my new idea 
might be, but partly to tease her for her doubts, and partly 
because I was by no means sure of my own success, and re- 
membered the lesson about arrogance I had latel}^ received, 
I would give her no satisfaction beyond saying that I was 
going to try a spell that a fairy in the form of a little bird had 
taught me, by which I could make any birds I chose, that 
had nests, take care of such little orphans as these. She was 
incredulous^ — ^but my only answer was — • 
" You shall see !" 
"I suppose I shall, if it happens ; but is it not cruel — too 
cruel, for you to be making foolish experiments upon the 
lives of these little things. I can feel them moving now." 
What ? would you have me kill them while there is a 
a hope 
"You should have let them die while they were insensible 
to pain. Now they've got to get over it all again, and worse 
too, for now they'll die of hunger!" 
