obedient while we are little, and wait till our parents think it best
for us to begin."

"Shut up your preaching," said Tip-Top; "what do you girls know of
flying?"

"About as much as you," said Speckle. "However, I'm sure I don't
care how soon you take yourself off, for you take up more room than
all the rest put together."

"You mind yourself, Master Speckle, or you'll get something you don't
like," said Tip-Top, still strutting in a very cavalier way on the
edge of the nest, and sticking up his little short tail quite
valiantly.

"O my darlings," said their mamma, now fluttering home, "cannot I
ever teach you to live in love?"

"It's all Tip-Top's fault," screamed the other birds in a flutter.

"My fault? Of course, everything in this nest that goes wrong is
laid to me," said Tip-Top; "and I'll leave it to anybody, now, if I
crowd anybody. I've been sitting outside, on the very edge of the
nest, and there's Speckle has got my place."

"Who wants your place?" said Speckle. "I'm sure you can come in, if
you please."

"My dear boy," said the mother, "do go into the nest and be a good
little bird, and then you will be happy."