Full of sympathy with the little sufferer, and indignant with
Frances, he exclaimed, "Provoking girl! she has stuffed the little
creatures as she would like to stuff herself; and I believe she has
killed them all."
The lively interest the other children had in the nest, impelled
them to hasten to the spot, and their lamentations, and even tears,
soon flowed.
"William, William, cannot you do anything for them? do try."
"Well, stand still and do not shake my arm--so saying, he began the
attempt, and drew the bread carefully out of the distended mouths of
the two.
"Now the other! the other, William!"
"That I cannot help," he answered: "see! she has forced it down, and
we cannot get it back again; it is dying now."
Anne picked up the dead one from off the ground, and stroking it
with her forefinger, "Poor little thing!" she said, "was she so cruel
to you!"
It was not long before they heard a rustling in the tree near the
place, and then a chirp of fright and distress. "Ah!" said their
mamma, "there is the mother! poor things, we will go a little
distance to let her come to the nest; perhaps she will be able to
save the two.
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