WHO STOLE THE BIRD'S NEST
to-whit listen wouldn't
any-how treat scorn in-trude
1. To-whit! to-whit! to-whee!
Will you listen to me?
Who stole four eggs I laid,
And the nice nest I made?"
2. "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."
3. "To-whir! to-whit! to-whee!
Will you listen to me?
Who stole four eggs I laid,
And the nice nest I made?"
4. "Not I," said the dog, "Bow-wow!
I wouldn't be so mean, anyhow!
I gave hairs the nest to make,
But the nest I did not take.
Not I," said the dog, "Bow-wow!
I'm not so mean, anyhow."
A LITTLE BOY... WENT AND HID BEHIND THE BED.
5. "To-whit! to-whit! to-whee!
Will you listen to me?
Who stole four eggs I laid,
And the nice nest I made?"
6. "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."
7. "To-whit! to-whit! to-whee!
Will you listen to me?
Who stole four eggs I laid,
And the nice nest I made?"
THE SWANS
8. "Cluck! Cluck!" said the hen,
"Don't ask me again;
Why, I haven't a chick
Would do such a trick.
We all gave you a feather,
And you wove them together.
I'd scorn to intrude
On you and your brood.
Cluck! Cluck!" said the hen;
"Don't ask me again."
9. 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.
—MARIA L. CHILD