Once upon a time a Blackbird and his mate lived happily in a tall tree. The Blackbird kept singing sweetly to his mate, pouring out his heart, as they built their nest together. And when the nest was finished and they settled in it, he sang more sweetly than ever.
Now, the King was riding that way and, when he heard this song of joy, he said to the Fowler: “Catch that Blackbird, so that I may hear his happy song every day.”
Not long after that the Fowler came with his nets and, by mistake, he caught Mrs. Blackbird. Now Mrs. Blackbird could sing hardly a note, but the Fowler could not tell her from Mr. Blackbird as both wore such black feathers.
The King was delighted to get the bird and he put her into a cage. But Mrs. Blackbird was so unhappy without her husband that she began to mourn and droop, and gave unhappy little chirps.
The King could not understand why he never heard the glad song of the forest; but he kept her a prisoner, hoping that some day she might sing.
Now, when Mr. Blackbird heard that his dear little wife had been stolen by the King, he was very angry indeed. He made up his mind that he would go to the palace and make war upon the King, demanding that his wife be set free. So, he got a long sharp thorn, and tied it at his waist for a sword. On his head he put half a walnut shell for a helmet. He took the skin of a dead frog and put it on for armor, and the other half of the walnut shell he used for a drum. And so he marched away beating upon his drum to make war upon the King.
As he walked along the road, beating upon his drum, he met a Cat.
“Miaow! Miaow!” said the Cat. “Where are you going, Mr. Blackbird?”
“I am going to fight against the King,” answered the bold Blackbird.
“I will go with you and help you,” said the Cat, “for the King drowned my kittens, and I should like to help punish him.”