"I think that would be more
fun than killin' them. If you're a dacint shot, and your gun is
clane" (Jimmy remembered the crow that had escaped with the eggs
at soap-making), "you pretty well know you're goin' to bring down
anything you aim at. But it would be a dandy joke to shell a little
corn as we husk it, and toll all the quail into Rainbow Bottom, and
then kape the other fellows out. Bedad! Let's do it."
Jimmy addressed the quail:
"Quailie, quailie on the fince,
We think your singin's just imminse.
Stay right here, and live with us,
And the fellow that shoots you will strike a fuss."
"We can protect them all richt enough," laughed Dannie. "And when
the snow comes we can feed Cardinals like cheekens. Wish when we
threshed, we'd saved a few sheaves of wheat. They do that in
Germany, ye know. The last sheaf of the harvest they put up on a
long pole at Christmas, as a thank-offering to the birds fra their
care of the crops. My father often told of it."
"That would be great," said Jimmy. "Now look how domn slow you are!
Why didn't you mintion it at harvest? I'd like things comin' for me
to take care of them. Gee! Makes me feel important just to think
about it. Next year we'll do it, sure. They'd be a lot of company.
A man could work in this field to-day, with all the flowers around
him, and the colors of the leaves like a garden, and a lot of birds
talkin' to him, and not feel afraid of being alone.
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