t would become nightingales.

"We understood that bird's song very well," said the young sparrows,
"but one word was not clear. What is _the beautiful_?"

"Oh, nothing of any consequence," replied the mother sparrow. "It is
something relating to appearances over yonder at the nobleman's house.
The pigeons have a house of their own, and every day they have corn and
peas spread for them. I have dined there with them sometimes, and so
shall you by and by, for I believe the old maxim--'Tell me what company
you keep, and I will tell you what you are.' Well, over at the noble
house there are two birds with green throats and crests on their heads.
They can spread out their tails like large wheels, and they reflect so
many beautiful colors that it dazzles the eyes to look at them. These
birds are called peacocks, and they belong to _the beautiful_; but if
only a few of their feathers were plucked off, they would not appear
better than we do. I would myself have plucked some out had they not
been so large."

"I will pluck them," squeaked the youngest sparrow, who had as yet no
feathers of his own.

In the cottage dwelt two young married people, who loved each other very
much and were industrious and active so that everything looked neat and
pretty around them. Early on Sunday mornings the young wife came out,
gathered a handful of the most beautiful roses, and put them in a glass
of water, which she placed on a side table.

"I see now that it is Sunday," said the husband, as he kissed his little
wife. Then they sat down and read in their hymn books, holding each
other's hands, while the sun shone down upon the young couple and upon
the fresh roses in the glass.

"This sight is really too wearisome," said the mother sparrow, who from
her nest could look into the room; and she flew away.

The same thing occurred the next Sunday; and indeed every Sunday fresh
roses were gathered and placed in a glass, but the rose tree continued
to bloom in all its beauty. After a while the young sparrows were
fledged and wanted to fly, but the mother would not allow it, and so
they were obliged to remain in the nest for the present, while she flew
away alone. It so happened that some boys had fastened a snare made of
horsehair to the branch of a tree, and before she was aware, her leg
became entangled in the horsehair so tightly as almost to cut it
through. What pain and terror she felt! The boys ran up quickly and
seized her, not in a ver