“If you have a lame leg,
You won’t have to beg.
Forget the old stone,
And think of a bone.
Instead of a moan,
Say, ‘Soon I’ll be home.’”
Do you know what happened? Ready was asleep in a few minutes. When he awakened, Shaggy Dog was smiling down at him and Mr. and Mrs. Sandpiper, with three of the children, were twittering above his head.
As soon as they saw that Ready was awake, they flew toward him. Then Mother Sandpiper, in a pretty little song, thanked him for saving all the family from destruction. Father Sandpiper joined in the last two lines, and at a signal from their mother, the little Sandpipers joined in the chorus.
It sounded to Ready something like this:
“Peet-weet, peet-weet,