University of Virginia Library



WHO STOLE THE BIRD'S NEST?

To whit! To whit! To whee!
Will you listen to me?
Who stole four eggs I laid,
And the nice nest I made?
Not I, said the cow, Moo oo!
Such a thing I'd never do.
I gave you a wisp of hay,
But didn't take your nest away.
Not I, said the cow, Moo oo!
Such a thing I'd never do.
To whit, To whit, To whee!
Will you listen to me?
Who stole four eggs I laid,
And the nice nest I made?

128

Bob-a-link! Bob-a-link!
Now what do you think?
Who stole a nest away
From the plumb-tree to-day?
Not I, said the dog, Bow wow,
I wouldn't be so mean, I vow.
I gave hairs the nest to make,
But the nest I did not take.
Not I, said the dog, Bow wow!
I wouldn't be so mean, I vow.
To whit! To whit! To whee!
Will you listen to me?
Who stole four eggs I laid,
And the nice nest I made?
Bob-a-link! Bob-a-link!
Now what do you think?
Who stole a nest away
From the plumb-tree to-day?
Coo coo! Coo coo! Coo coo!
Let me speak a word, too.
Who stole that pretty nest,
From little yellow breast?

129

Not I, said the sheep; oh no,
I wouldn't treat a poor bird so.
I gave wool the nest to line,
But the nest was none of mine.
Baa baa! said the sheep, oh no,
I wouldn't treat a poor bird so.
To whit! To whit! To whee!
Will you listen to me?
Who stole four eggs I laid,
And the nice nest I made?
Bob-a-link! Bob-a-link!
Now what do you think?
Who stole a nest away
From the plumb-tree to-day?
Coo coo! Coo coo! Coo coo!
Let me speak a word, too.
Who stole that pretty nest
From little yellow breast?
Caw! Caw! cried the crow,
I should like to know,
What thief took away
A bird's nest to-day?

130

Cluck, cluck, said the hen,
Don't ask me again.
Why I haven't a chick
Would do such a trick.
We all gave her a feather,
And she wove them together.
I'd scorn to intrude
On her and her brood.
Cluck, cluck, said the hen,
Don't ask me again.
Chirr-a-whirr! Chirr-a-whirr!
We will make a great stir!
Let us find out his name,
And all cry for shame!
I would not rob a bird,
Said little Mary Green;
I think I never heard
Of any thing so mean.
'Tis very cruel, too,
Said little Alice Neal;
I wonder if he knew
How sad the bird would feel

131

A little boy hung down his head,
And went and hid behind the bed;
For he stole that pretty nest,
From poor little yellow breast;
And he felt so full of shame,
He didn't like to tell his name.