And after that the sparrows began. And as soon as the sparrows began, the others left off: for they knew it was no good to go on against the sparrows; for the sparrows go on for ever.
Then Baby got up, and went to the window.
And the sun was just up and staring white through the black of the trees: for it was about Christmas by now.
And the sky shone like a sword. And great white ice-bergs with shining tops sailed by behind the Mountain on the border of That Country. And old Methuselah, his ears hoary with frost, was trying for some more sleep under the thorn.
And on the eave above the window a starling, all purple and green and gold in the sun, was dressing. And as he dressed he was making all the noises no other bird can make. For the starling is like a lot more, he never knows quite what he's going to say himself till he's said it, only he knows it's never been said before, and never will be again.
Then the sun rose over the wall of the back-yard, and struck the top of the boot-hole. And at once mannikin inside began to sing very merrily,
"I hop in the boot-hole,
As happy can be,
As bold as a robin,
As brisk as the sea,
I chirp like a cricket,
I buzz as a bee
A-swing in the fox-glove,
A-blow on the lea."
And when Baby heard that she ran and shook Tiny, who was lying in bed with one eye out, and the blanket tight round, and she cried.
"Get up, Lazy-bones! get up! get up!—Everybody's up and busy and merry long ago only you."
And she began to dance about with her hair down, singing,