THE NESTS NOW MADE, THE EGGS ARE LAID.
And, circling widely, Caw! they say,
Caw! Caw! our eggs now let us lay.
Two spotted eggs in every nest
For warmth await the mother’s breast.
And all the Crows around them fly
With flapping wings and joyful cry:
“Caw! Caw!” they say, “now it is fit
That we upon our eggs should sit.”
EACH CROW BRINGS FOOD TO HIS MATE SO GOOD.
The patient Crows for many a week
No other occupation seek;
But, while one sits and looks around,
The other makes the woods resound
With cawings loud, or frequent brings
Worms, seeds, or such delicious things,
And kindly feeds his brooding mate
From early morn till evening late.
THE YOUNG CROW KNOWS WELL HOW TO CHIP THE SHELL.
Till, to reward their anxious care,
A gentle sound the parents hear
Of tapping from within the shell:
This sound doth please the mother well,
And, fondly helping with her bill,
She hears the voices weak and shrill.
“Caw! Caw!” the downy young ones say,
“How lovely is this peep of day,
Oh what a glorious sight is this,
There can be nothing here but bliss.”
“Caw! Caw!” replies the mother crow,
“There is no joy unmixed with woe.”