My mother was a very wise bird: so, instead of struggling to get away, she remained so quiet, that Mrs. Pussy soon thought she must be dead. Before long she put her down upon the grass, that she might admire at her leisure the nice fat sparrow she had caught for her dinner. All at once up flew my mother, and in an instant was far beyond the reach of the cat.
Now I thought I was old enough to have a family of my own. So I chose me a little sparrow-wife; but I had to fight several battles before I could conquer all my rivals. My bravery won her heart; and I think she has been well content with her choice. We built our nest, and soon I had the pleasure of seeing in it five bluish-white, brown-and-gray-dotted eggs, and, fourteen days after, five pretty sparrows,—three sons, and two daughters.
One saucy rogue, with a golden bill, we lost. Like me, he was caught; but he never regained his liberty. A friendly little maiden was his mistress, who made him so tame, that he would eat from her hand. She gave him so many dainties, that he became too fat, and died. I saw how the little maiden dug him a grave in her garden. Bitterly weeping, she placed him therein, covered him with earth, and planted a cross of flowers on the little mound.
Our other children, one after the other, founded homes of their own, and all lived good and useful sparrow-lives. The multitude of my grandchildren I am no longer able to count.
From the German.
"The seed that springs, and the bird that sings,
And the shining summer sun,
The tiny bee, and the mighty sea,
God made them, every one."