TOM TEASING JOHNNY
“Poor ’ittle birds! knocked off tree!” said the pitying child. Tom was provoked at seeing the pity.
“What a silly little goose you are, Johnny! It was fine fun to set nest and all a-flying, and finish the whole family at once!”
But whatever might be the opinion of Tom, the plump little cottager kept to his own, and only more sadly repeated the words, “Poor ’ittle birds! knocked off tree!”
“Oh, if you’ve such a fancy for swinging on a tree, we’ll have you up directly, and make an ‘’ittle bird of you!’” And laughing at the struggles and entreaties of the child, Tom suddenly lifted him over the hedge, and followed him into the field, flinging the wretched dead birds into a ditch.
In vain Johnny kicked and pushed and roared; Tom was a remarkably tall and strong boy, and catching the poor child up in his arms, he ran with him across the field. There was another hedge at the opposite side, which Tom passed as easily as he had done the first, and they now found themselves at the edge of a wood, thickly filled with trees of various sizes.
It was a delight to Tom to cause terror and alarm; no feeling of pity with him ever cut short a joke. In a few moments poor Johnny was perched upon a branch, clinging and roaring with all his might.
“There, ‘’ittle bird,’ I hope that you like your bough. Shall I shake it an ’ittle, just to give you a nice swing? Hold tight, mind you don’t fall, or you’ll break your fat neck as the ’ittle birds did!” Then he began to sing—
“Hushaby, baby, on the tree-top,