THE BIRD’S NEST
Reading edition
Characters—Yellow-breast, Bobolink, Cuckoo, Crow, Cow, Dog, Sheep, Hen, Little Boy
Yellow-breast. To-whit, to-whit, to-whee! Will you listen to me? Who stole four eggs I laid And the nice nest I made?
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Cow. Not I. Moo-oo! Moo-oo! Such a thing I’d never do! I gave you a wisp of hay But didn’t take your nest away. Not I! Moo-oo! Moo-oo! Such a thing I’d never do.
Yellow-breast. To-whit, to-whit, to-whee! Will you listen to me? Who stole four eggs I laid And the nice nest I made?
Bobolink. Bob-o-link! Bob-o-link! Now what do you think? Who stole a nest away From the plum tree to-day?
Dog.95 Not I! Bow-wow! Bow-wow! I wouldn’t be so mean, I vow! I gave hairs the nest to make, But the nest I did not take! Not I! Bow-wow! Bow-wow! I wouldn’t be so mean, I vow.
Yellow-breast. To-whit, to-whit, to-whee! Will you listen to me? Who stole four eggs I laid And the nice nest I made?
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Bobolink. Bob-o-link! Bob-o-link! Now what do you think? Who stole a nest away From the plum tree, to-day?
Cuckoo. Coo-coo! Coo-coo! Coo-coo! Let me speak a word, too! Who stole that pretty nest From little Yellow-breast?
Sheep. Not I! Oh, no! Oh, no! I wouldn’t treat a poor bird so. I gave wool the nest to line; But the nest was none of mine! Oh, no! Oh, no! I wouldn’t treat a poor bird so.
Yellow-breast.97 To-whit, to-whit, to-whee! Will you listen to me? Who stole four eggs I laid And the nice nest I made?
Bobolink. Bob-o-link! Bob-o-link! Now what do you think? Who stole a nest away From the plum tree, to-day?
Cuckoo. Coo-coo! Coo-coo! Coo-coo! Let me speak a word, too. Who stole that pretty nest From little Yellow-breast?
Crow. Caw, caw! Hear the crow! I should like to know What thief took away A bird’s nest, to-day?
Hen.98 Cluck! Cluck! Hear me then! Don’t ask me again! Why, I haven’t a chick Would do such a trick! We all gave her a feather And she wove them together. I’d scorn to intrude On her and her brood. Cluck, cluck! hear me then, Don’t ask me again.
Bobolink, Cuckoo, Crow. Chirr-a-whirr! Chirr-a-whirr! All the birds make a stir, Let us find out his name And all cry “For shame!”
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Little Boy. I stole that pretty nest From poor little Yellow-breast. And I feel so full of shame I do not like to tell my name!
—Adapted from Lydia Maria Child.
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