THE VAIN SPARROWS.
THE VAIN SPARROWS.
Once upon a time, so many days ago that it really makes no difference as to exactly when it did happen, a very respectable and industrious couple by the name of Sparrow lived a short distance in the country. They had a cozy little home in a tree so stout that there was no need of insuring it against damage by wind, and they were not only contented with their lot in life, but were very happy.
They were by no means ignorant of the city, which could be seen from the topmost branches of their home, for they had lived there in their younger days, moving into the country only when they felt it absolutely necessary to their comfort to get away from the bustle and confusion that almost distracted them.
Their friends and acquaintances all said they were very foolish to hide themselves in such a quiet place, even if it was cozy, and tried to persuade them to move back to town; but they paid very little attention to such talk, hardly even making any answer, and when they had two little fluffy children, Mrs. Sparrow declared that nothing could tempt her to leave their country home. You see, she thought it would be better to keep the children at that place, where she could be sure that they would not be out late at night, or get into mischief, than to take them where they might make bad acquaintances, for she loved these two boys of hers very dearly, even though they had got only about half as many wing and tail feathers as they would have when they were older.
But the strangest portion of the story is that these two young Sparrows not only thought they knew quite as much as their parents did, but they had an idea that the only place for Sparrows with any degree of spirit to live in was the city, and almost from the time their noses were poked out of the shell they coaxed their father and mother to move into town, where there was more to be seen and enjoyed. Whenever the children teased, old father Sparrow would shake his head knowingly, as if he did not even dare to tell how wicked the great city was, and mother Sparrow would offer to show them a nice fat worm if they would try and be contented at home, instead of wanting to go where they had no business, and where they would not be nearly so comfortable.
The Sparrow boys always took the worm their mother offered, and they winked at each other while they were eating it, as if to say that their father was getting entirely too old to know what was best for boys, while they were very certain they knew exactly what they should or should not do.
They thought so much about the city, and how nice it would be to live there, that they talked of very little else, and on several occasions even neglected to oil their feathers as they had been taught, which caused them to look anything rather than neat.
One morning, after they had teased their father, and been given a feast by their mother, which saved them the labor of hunting for breakfast, they accidentally came upon a pretty little stream whose waters were as clear as crystal, and along the banks of which was a rail fence that made a capital roosting place. Here, of course, they began to talk over the city life they were so anxious to lead, when one of them chanced to see his reflection in the water.