10 THE MAGIC OAK TREE

laden with this precious burden, and with
little Hurly-Burly walking quietly by her side,
the nurse began to move slowly forward in
the direction of the palace. She had not gone
very far, however, before she heard a sound
which attracted her attention, and looking up,
she beheld a black crow sitting on the branch
of a tree, and looking at her as if he wished
to be noticed. The good woman looked up
at the bird, and as soon as she did so he
gave a loud caw, and then, to her great
surprise, addressed her in the following
manner :

+ Good woman, I fear you've been shedding a tear,
—(And tears in this world must be shed)—
But remember, kind nurse, that it might have been
worse,
Had your nurslings been wounded or dead.
Safe, healthy, and sound, see they hop on the
ground,
A step which a frogling befits ;
"Twere worse, I assert, were they crippled and hurt,
Or cruelly broken to bits.
All else may be reft, but if life be still left,
Misfortune may well be endured.
So duty don’t shirk—your wits set to work,
And perchance the dear chicks may be cured !'

The worthy nurse listened to this speech