o more; and in truth her heart yearned over the little
creatures. Somehow or other food was never lacking in the hut, and
the children grew up and were so good and gentle that, in time, their
foster-parents loved them as well or better than their own, who were
quarrelsome and envious. It did not take the orphans long to notice that
the boys did not like them, and were always playing tricks on them, so
they used to go away by themselves and spend whole hours by the banks
of the river. Here they would take out the bits of bread they had saved
from their breakfasts and crumble them for the birds. In return, the
birds taught them many things: how to get up early in the morning, how
to sing, and how to talk their language, which very few people know.

But though the little orphans did their best to avoid quarrelling with
their foster-brothers, it was very difficult always to keep the peace.
Matters got worse and worse till, one morning, the eldest boy said to
the twins:

'It is all very well for you to pretend that you have such good manners,
and are so much better than we, but we have at least a father and
mother, while you have only got the river, like the toads and the
frogs.'

The poor children did not answer the insult; but it made them very
unhappy. And they told each other in whispers that they could not stay
there any longer, but must go into the world and seek their fortunes.

So next day they arose as early as the birds and stole downstairs
without anybody hearing them. One window was open, and they crept softly
out and ran to the side of the river. Then, feeling as if they had found
a friend, they walked along its banks, hoping that by-and-by they should
meet some one to take care of them.

The whole of that day they went steadily on without seeing a living
creature, till, in the evening, weary and footsore, they saw before them
a small hut. This raised their spirits for a moment; but the door was
shut, and the hut seemed empty, and so great was their disappointment
that they almost cried. However, the boy fought down his tears, and said
cheerfully:

'Well, at any rate here is a bench where we can sit down, and when we
are rested we will think what is best to do next.'

Then they sat down, and for some time they were too tired even to notice
anything; but by-and-by they saw that under the tiles of the roof a
number of swallows were sitting, chattering merrily to each other.
Of course the swallows had no id