"Now get right on the edge of the roof, and see how quickly people will find out we are here," said the elder, as he gave a little shake of his tail to make sure each feather was in sight.
In one particular he was correct: they were noticed very quickly, although hardly in the way he had supposed. In less than five minutes from the time they first took possession of their lofty perch a party of young city Sparrows came up to arrange their feathers in the latest fashion after having taken their noonday bath.
"Will you look at those birds?" cried one, with a laugh and a twitter, as he shook his wings in the direction of the new-comers. "They must have worn those same feathers since last spring, they are so out of style."
Then another spoke of the wretched taste displayed in the cut of the strangers' tails, while the third actually crowded against the country Sparrows until he nearly pushed them from the roof.
The visitors were very angry, but they did not dare to say anything; for as many as a dozen other city fellows had joined the first party, all of whom made all possible sport of these two who had thought themselves so beautiful, until an old gray-headed Sparrow, who was carrying a large bug to his wife, stopped to see what the matter was.
He very soon obliged the pert young city fellows to stop their nonsense, and then asked the strangers where they came from, and how they chanced to be there. It was some time before the two vain birds would tell their story; but they did so at last, and when they had finished, the old bird said:
"In the first place, you deserve very much harsher treatment than you have received, because of having come here against your parents' wishes. Go home at once, and remember that it is much safer to trust to what your father says than to try to find out for yourselves. As to your beauty, of that you should allow others to judge. There is an old maxim which comes very near the truth, and that is, 'Handsome is who handsome does,' the true meaning of which I think you can now readily understand."
The birds were ashamed of themselves almost before the old gentleman had finished speaking, and just as soon as it was possible for them to leave him they started for home, where they have ever since remained, studying the maxim, and trying to profit by it.