Little Dramas for Primary Grades

THE BIRD'S NEST

Characters—Yellow-breast, Bobolink, Cuckoo, Crow, Cow, Dog, Sheep, Hen, Little Boy

Yellow-breast. To-whit, to-whit, to-whee!
Will you listen to me?
Who stole four eggs I laid
And the nice nest I made?

Cow. Not I. Moo-oo! Moo-oo!
Such a thing I’d never do!
I gave you a wisp of hay
But didn’t take your nest away.
Not I! Moo-oo! Moo-oo!
Such a thing I’d never do.

Yellow-breast. To-whit, to-whit, to-whee!
Will you listen to me?
Who stole four eggs I laid
And the nice nest I made?

Bobolink. Bob-o-link! Bob-o-link!
Now what do you think?
Who stole a nest away
From the plum tree to-day?

Dog. Not I! Bow-wow! Bow-wow!
I wouldn’t be so mean, I vow!
I gave hairs the nest to make,
But the nest I did not take!
Not I! Bow-wow! Bow-wow!
I wouldn’t be so mean, I vow.

Yellow-breast. To-whit, to-whit, to-whee!
Will you listen to me?
Who stole four eggs I laid
And the nice nest I made?

Bobolink. Bob-o-link! Bob-o-link!
Now what do you think?
Who stole a nest away
From the plum tree, to-day?

Cuckoo. Coo-coo! Coo-coo! Coo-coo!
Let me speak a word, too!
Who stole that pretty nest
From little Yellow-breast?

Sheep. Not I! Oh, no! Oh, no!
I wouldn’t treat a poor bird so.
I gave wool the nest to line;
But the nest was none of mine!
Oh, no! Oh, no! I wouldn’t treat a poor bird so.

Yellow-breast. To-whit, to-whit, to-whee!
Will you listen to me?
Who stole four eggs I laid
And the nice nest I made?

Bobolink. Bob-o-link! Bob-o-link!
Now what do you think?
Who stole a nest away
From the plum tree, to-day?

Cuckoo. Coo-coo! Coo-coo! Coo-coo!
Let me speak a word, too.
Who stole that pretty nest
From little Yellow-breast?

Crow. Caw, caw! Hear the crow!
I should like to know
What thief took away
A bird’s nest, to-day?

Hen. Cluck! Cluck! Hear me then!
Don’t ask me again!
Why, I haven’t a chick
Would do such a trick!
We all gave her a feather
And she wove them together.
I’d scorn to intrude
On her and her brood.
Cluck, cluck! hear me then,
Don’t ask me again.

Bobolink,
Cuckoo,
Crow. Chirr-a-whirr! Chirr-a-whirr!
All the birds make a stir,
Let us find out his name
And all cry “For shame!”

Little Boy. I stole that pretty nest
From poor little Yellow-breast.
And I feel so full of shame
I do not like to tell my name!

—Adapted from Lydia Maria Child.

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