“They stole our four little children,” sobbed the Meadow Larks.
“And they shot a bird with an arrow yesterday,” added Shaggy Bear. “Here is the bird. Here, too, are the bow and the arrow.” And he handed them all to Father Thrift.
“Why, they’ve shot my cousin, Blackbird!” cried the Crow, who had been quiet up to now. “I have a good mind to bite off their noses and scratch out their eyes.”
“R-r-r-r-r-r! Charr! charr! charr!” All the birds became very much excited. They screamed and fluttered their wings, and their eyes shone with anger.
The boys were badly frightened. But Father Thrift quickly restored order.
He said: “Let us first hear what the boys have to say. We will ask them a few questions.”
He faced the boys. “Did you do what the birds say you did?” he asked.
The boys hung their heads in shame.