right in the nest and look all about them. Every day
the father stork came with delicious frogs, nice little snakes, and
other such dainties that storks delight in. How funny it was to see the
clever feats he performed to amuse them! He would lay his head right
round upon his tail; and sometimes he would clatter with his beak, as if
it were a little rattle; or he would tell them stories, all relating to
swamps and fens.

"Come, children," said the mother stork one day, "now you must learn to
fly." And all the four young storks had to go out on the ridge of the
roof. How they did totter and stagger about! They tried to balance
themselves with their wings, but came very near falling to the ground.

"Look at me!" said the mother. "This is the way to hold your head. And
thus you must place your feet. Left! right! left! right! that's what
will help you on in the world."

Then she flew a little way, and the young ones took a clumsy little
leap. Bump! plump! down they fell, for their bodies were still too heavy
for them.

"I will not fly," said one of the young storks, as he crept back to the
nest. "I don't care about going to warm countries."

"Do you want to stay here and freeze when the winter comes? Will you
wait till the boys come to hang, to burn, or to roast you? Well, then,
I'll call them."

"Oh, no!" cried the timid stork, hopping back to the roof with the rest.

By the third day they actually began to fly a little. Then they had no
doubt that they could soar or hover in the air, upborne by their wings.
And this they attempted to do, but down they fell, flapping their wings
as fast as they could.

Again the boys came to the street, singing their song, "Storks, storks,
fly home and rest."

"Shall we fly down and peck them?" asked the young ones.

"No, leave them alone. Attend to me; that's far more important.
One--two--three! now we fly round to the right. One--two--three! now to
the left, round the chimney. There! that was very good. That last flap
with your wings and the kick with your feet were so graceful and proper
that to-morrow you shall fly with me to the marsh. Several of the nicest
stork families will be there with their children. Let me see that mine
are the best bred of all. Carry your heads high and mind you strut about
proudly, for that looks well and helps to make one respected."

"But shall we not take revenge upon the naughty boys?" asked the young
storks.

"No, no; let them scream away,