ing
his head, "some fairy must have put it here, and we must take care of it
or they may be angry and do harm to our little ones by and by. Sit
carefully on it, and see what will follow."

So Mamma Linnet sat patiently on the five eggs for many days more, and
then out came her four small children and began to chirp for food. But
the big blue egg still lay there, and no sound of a little bill pecking
inside was heard.

"Shall we throw it out of the nest and make room for our babies?" asked
the mother, finding her nursery very crowded.

"Not yet," said the careful papa, standing on one leg to rest, being
very tired of bringing worms for his family. "Wait two more days, and
then if the egg does not break, we will push it out."

He was a wise bird, and they were always glad that they waited; for on
the seventh day the blue egg suddenly flew open, and there lay the
smallest, prettiest little girl ever seen,--three inches long, but rosy,
gay, and lively as she popped up her curly head and looked about her as
if much surprised to find herself in a nest swinging on the branch of a
tree.

"Who are you?" asked the father linnet, while all the young ones stared
at her with their big eyes, and opened their beaks as if to eat her up.

"I'm little Bud," answered the tiny creature, smiling at them so sweetly
it was impossible to help loving her at once.

"Where do you come from?" said the mother.

"I don't know."

"Are you a fairy?"

"No; for I have no wand."

"A new kind of bird?"

"I have no feathers or wings."

"A human child?"

"I think not; for I have no parents."

"Bless the dear! what can she be? and what shall we do with her?" cried
both the birds, much amazed at this new child of theirs.

Bud did not seem to be troubled at all, but lay rocking in her blue
cradle and laughing at the young linnets who peeped curiously over the
edge of it.

"She must have something to eat," said the papa, flying off.

"And some clothes," added the mamma, bustling about.

But when a nice, fat worm was brought, Bud covered her face and cried
with a shiver,--

"No, no! I cannot eat that ugly thing."

"Get a strawberry," said the mamma; and she tried to wrap the largest,
softest feather that lined her nest round the naked little maid.

But Bud kicked her small legs out of it at once, and stood up, saying
with a laugh,--

"I'm not a bird; I cannot wear feathers. Give me a pretty green leaf for
a gown, and let me look a