 | Stories and poems for children |  |
THE UNBIDDEN GUEST
Oh, sweetly the robin warbled, wooing his little mate
Till she twittered her joyous answer,—he had not long to wait!
Till she twittered her joyous answer,—he had not long to wait!
Oh, the air was warm and spicy, there was sunshine and soft showers;
To and fro they flitted gayly through the changeful April hours.
To and fro they flitted gayly through the changeful April hours.
They chose a quiet pine-tree and began to weave their nest
Where a forked branch gave support on which their cosy home to rest.
Where a forked branch gave support on which their cosy home to rest.
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And happy, happy, happy, they worked from morn till night,
Making the fragrant air to ring with carols of delight.
Making the fragrant air to ring with carols of delight.
With straws and sticks and twigs and threads and scraps and plastering clay,
And bits of leaves and wool and shreds they worked the livelong day.
And bits of leaves and wool and shreds they worked the livelong day.
We watched them finish all, and thought to peep in presently
The lovely turquoise-colored eggs like jewels fair to see.
The lovely turquoise-colored eggs like jewels fair to see.
They sought their dainty dwelling with the dawn's first rosy light;
Oh, horror! What was this strange thing that met their startled sight!
Oh, horror! What was this strange thing that met their startled sight!
Their pretty woven cradle cup was filled up to the brim
With a huge cold mottled tree-toad, blinking o'er its tidy rim!
With a huge cold mottled tree-toad, blinking o'er its tidy rim!
So well content, so much at home his lazy toadship seemed!
While o'er him fluttered both the birds and scolded loud and screamed,
While o'er him fluttered both the birds and scolded loud and screamed,
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And dashed at him with angry claw, and pecked with sharpened beak,
Striving with all their tiny might vengeance on him to wreak.
Striving with all their tiny might vengeance on him to wreak.
In vain, he would not budge an inch! He liked it much too well;
So lazy, if he breathed or no, you couldn't really tell.
So lazy, if he breathed or no, you couldn't really tell.
The frantic little house-builders took counsel thoughtfully,
Once more they swooped with ruffled plumes upon their enemy.
Once more they swooped with ruffled plumes upon their enemy.
And strove to hoist him o'er the edge, prying with beak and head
And strenuous shoulder, but he lay heavy as lump of lead.
And strenuous shoulder, but he lay heavy as lump of lead.
What could they do? In deep despair upon a bough they sat,
And gazed down at their hated guest, so ugly and so fat,
And gazed down at their hated guest, so ugly and so fat,
And in their sweet bird language excitedly they talked,
Debating eagerly how best that big toad could be balked.
Debating eagerly how best that big toad could be balked.
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At last they settled it. They swept down on the nest again,
With wrath and fury in their hearts, and then with might and main,
With wrath and fury in their hearts, and then with might and main,
Working below it swift they tore their cunning masonry
Piecemeal from underneath the toad reposing stupidly!
Piecemeal from underneath the toad reposing stupidly!
Crumbled the clay, outflew the shreds, the straws were scattered wide.
Larger and larger grew the hole as fast their work they plied.
Larger and larger grew the hole as fast their work they plied.
Until at last a slip, a crash! Down came that clammy toad
Thump! on the ground, and quawk! quoth he, and hopped across the road,
Thump! on the ground, and quawk! quoth he, and hopped across the road,
And hid him in the grass, while high above his head the birds
Sang Victory! triumphantly, as plain as human words!
Sang Victory! triumphantly, as plain as human words!
But they could not bear the sight of that dear ruined home of theirs,
The centre of such hopes and joys, and such delightful cares.
The centre of such hopes and joys, and such delightful cares.
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So they turned away and flew afar, and built another nest,
And let us hope were spared the woe of such another guest!
And let us hope were spared the woe of such another guest!
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