"I bought a hen, and my hen pleased me;
I tied my hen behind a tree;
Hen said——"
"Shinny-shack! shinny-shack!" interrupted another voice, so loudly that Davie's heart gave a great thump, as he turned around. There, behind the wren, stood a little Bantam hen, and around her neck was a little golden cord that fastened her to the wren's leg.
"I suppose that was you?" said Davie.
"Yes, indeed," replied the hen. "I know when my time comes in, in a song. But it was provoking for you to call me away from my chicks."
"I?" cried Davie. "I didn't call you!"
"Oh, indeed!" said the Bantam. "It wasn't you, then, who were singing 'Tied my hen,' just now! Oh no, not you!"
"I'm sorry," said Davie. "I didn't mean to."
"Well, go on, then," said the little hen, "and don't bother."
Davie was so full of wonder that he did not know what to think of it all. He went back to his seat, and sang again:
"I had a guinea, and my guinea pleased me;
I tied my guinea behind a tree——"