“If I were to eat one of those crumbs I believe it would choke me,” he called up to his little wife, who was watching them as she softly sang her babies to sleep.
“My feet are very sore, Billy,” went on the child; “for, you see, I have to go very far to sell my matches, and I think I should feel stronger if I had more to eat. I sometimes think that I can’t stand it any longer;” and the poor child began to sob again.
The sparrow felt very sorry for her, and told her what her friends the animals were going to do for her, and how happy she would be when she found herself in a new home. “If they felt so sorry for the little gray kitten, think how they’ll pity you, you poor ill-used child!” he said. “And Posy and Tom will play with you, and you’ll have shoes and stockings to wear, and plenty to eat, and a nice place to sleep in; so don’t cry, little Nancy, for very good times are coming!”
This is what the sparrow said, but the child did not understand the words.
“I believe you’re trying to comfort me, you dear thing,” she said, “when you sing so cheerfully; and it makes me forget how hungry I am, and my feet don’t hurt me so much.”
“The sun has gone down and it’s time to go to bed,” called out the little bright-eyed sparrow after the child and the sparrow had talked together in this manner for some time. “I always like to have the house quiet by sundown.”
“Why, it’s only just the edge of the evening,” answered the sparrow; “I guess I’ll call ’round on some of my old friends. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
“I know your tricks,” said his little wife; “you’ll come home by daybreak, and then you’ll want to sleep till noon. ‘The early bird catches the worm,’ my mother used to say; and true enough it is. It’s too bad to have you go off so soon, when I was so glad to have you back again! I’ve lots of things to tell you;” and the bright-eyed sparrow’s eyes filled with tears of disappointment.
“Well, don’t cry, and I’ll stay at home,” said the sparrow, as he flew up to the nest; and nestling close together they talked until their voices grew sleepy, and then each little head was tucked under a wing, and both were fast asleep.
Then the child arose, and limping went slowly into the house.