“Now for home!” he said; and mounting into the air he circled a few times over the spring, and then flew straight to his home, still holding the lump of sugar securely in his little claw.
A small unpainted house stood back from the road. The whole place had a dilapidated look,—the gate was off the hinges; most of the blinds were gone, and those that were left were broken or hanging by one hinge; the shingles were off the roof in many places; and panes of glass were gone from many of the windows, the holes being filled up with bundles of rags.
A shed that looked as if it were ready to tumble down at any moment was built on to the back of the house; and a large elm, the only pretty thing about the place, spread its drooping branches over the moss-grown roof.
To this tree the sparrow made his way, and lighted on a branch before a little bird-house which looked as much out of repair as the house itself; for it seemed ready to fall apart at any moment, and the bits of seaweed and straw and wool of which the nest was made, were hanging out of the door in a most untidy manner. In fact, the whole structure had an insecure appearance, as if a high wind might topple it over at any moment.
A little bright-eyed sparrow stood in the doorway, and three small sparrows from the nest inside opened their mouths wide and clamored expectantly for something to eat as the sparrow lighted beside them.
“How do you do, my darling?” said the sparrow gayly, as he approached his little bright-eyed wife for a kiss.
But instead of answering she turned her back towards him, and looked straight before her with what she intended to be a very severe expression; but the truth was, her natural expression was so good-natured and pleasing that she didn’t succeed so well as she thought she did.
“Hasn’t it one little kiss for its husband that’s been away so long?” asked the sparrow, trying to get a view of the face she turned away from him.
“No, it hasn’t,” answered the little wife shortly, without looking at him.
“If you knew how I’ve longed to see you all this time!” said the sparrow, with a sigh.