in spite of herself. At least, the cowbirds
had said nothing about her poke. And that was certainly worth a smile.

In the past the Muley Cow had known plenty of cowbirds. But she had paid
little heed to them, unless it was to tell them to fly away, for they
were always hovering around a body's feet.

It wasn't long before the flock had caught every one of the flies that
had been following the Muley Cow. And when the last one had been gobbled
up--after a slight dispute as to who should have it--the cowbirds left
the Muley Cow abruptly. And they seemed to have lost all their
politeness before they went.

"They're shy--that's all," the Muley Cow thought. "They hurried away
before I could thank them."

XIII

TRUTH WILL OUT

Later in the day the Muley Cow had a chat with a song sparrow--a musical
person who had a nest cunningly hidden in the center of a bush near the
pasture fence.

"What a pleasant family those cowbirds are!" the Muley Cow happened to
remark. "They're so kind!"

The song sparrow gave her a queer look.

"Kind!" he echoed.

The Muley Cow saw at once that he did not agree with her.

"Yes!" she insisted. "They were very nice to me this morning. They
caught all the flies that were bothering me."

The song sparrow gave a slight sniff. "They were only having their
breakfast. You may be sure that they didn't catch the flies to oblige
you."

"I wish," said the Muley Cow, "you wouldn't speak rudely of my friends,
because they are very pleasant."

"Why, they're outcasts!" the song sparrow cried. "No decent bird will
have anything to do with them. They lay their eggs in our nests and we
have to bring up their lubberly children for them. If I were you I'd
drive them away next time and let the flies bite. What's your tail for,
anyhow, except to switch the flies off?"

"Really, I don't know," said the Muley Cow.

She felt somewhat foolish.

And soon afterward the song sparrow told his wife that there was always
something to learn, no matter if one were as old as the Muley Cow.

The Muley Cow couldn't quite believe what Mr. Song Sparrow had told her
about the cowbirds. But if it was true, she didn't want anything more to
do with them. And if it wasn't true, she intended to be specially
agreeable to them.

In order to find out what was what, the Muley Cow made up her mind to
ask the cowbirds a question the very next time she met them.

It wasn't long before they gathered around her again