r nests to this very day.

Then the magpie put another layer of mud over the twigs.

"Oh, that 's quite obvious!" said the wise owl, and away it flew; and
owls have never made better nests since.

After this the magpie took some twigs and twined them round the outside.

"The very thing!" said the sparrow, and off he went; so sparrows make
rather slovenly nests to this day.

Well, then Madge magpie took some feathers and stuff, and lined the nest
very comfortably with it.

"That suits me!" cried the starling, and off it flew; and very
comfortable nests have starlings.

So it went on, every bird taking away some knowledge of how to build
nests, but none of them waiting to the end.

Meanwhile Madge magpie went on working and working without looking up,
till the only bird that remained was the turtle-dove, and that hadn't
paid any attention all along, but only kept on saying its silly cry:
"Take two, Taffy, take two-o-o-o!"

At last the magpie heard this just as she was putting a twig across, so
she said: "One's enough."

But the turtle-dove kept on saying: "Take two, Taffy, take two-o-o-o!"

Then the magpie got angry and said: "One's enough, I tell you!"

Still the turtle-dove cried: "Take two, Taffy, take two-o-o-o!"

At last, and at last, the magpie looked up and saw nobody near her but
the silly turtle-dove, and then she got rarely angry and flew away and
refused to tell the birds how to build nests again.

And that is why different birds build their nests differently.

THE GREEDY GEESE

FROM IL LIBRO D'ORO (ADAPTED)

Many years ago there was near the sea a convent famed for the rich crops
of grain that grew on its farm. On a certain year a large flock of wild
geese descended on its fields and devoured first the corn, and then the
green blades.

The superintendent of the farm hastened to the convent and called the
lady abbess.

"Holy mother," said he, "this year the nuns will have to fast
continually, for there will be no food."

"Why is that?" asked the abbess.

"Because," answered the superintendent, "a flood of wild geese has
rained upon the land, and they have eaten up the corn, nor have they
left a single green blade."

"Is it possible," said the abbess, "that these wicked birds have no
respect for the property of the convent! They shall do penance for their
misdeeds. Return at once to the fields, and order the geese from me to
come without delay to the convent door, so that they m