'"andthentheyrepeatedtheformerjokeabout"portulak,"anddeclareditwasmostamusing.thentheyalllaydowntohaveanap.
theyhadbeenlyingasleepforsometime,whensuddenlysomethingwasthrownintotheyardforthemtoeat.itcamedownwithsuchabang,thatthewholecompanystartedupandclappedtheirwings.theportugueseawoketoo,andrushedovertotheotherside:insodoingshetroduponthelittlesinging-bird.
"tweet,"hecried;"youtrodveryharduponme,madam."
"well,then,whydoyoulieinmyway?"sheretorted,"youmustnotbesotouchy.ihavenervesofmyown,butidonotcry'tweet.'"
"don'tbeangry,"saidthelittlebird;"the'tweet'slippedoutofmybeakunawares."
theportuguesedidnotlistentohim,butbeganeatingasfastasshecould,andmadeagoodmeal.whenshehadfinished,shelaydownagain,andthelittlebird,whowishedtobeamiable,begantosing,-
"chirpandtwitter,
thedew-dropsglitter,
inthehoursofsunnyspring,
i'llsingmybest,
tilligotorest,
withmyheadbehindmywing."
"nowiwantrestaftermydinner,"saidtheportuguese;"youmustconformtotherulesofthehousewhileyouarehere.iwanttosleepnow."
thelittlebirdwasquitetakenaback,forhemeantitmadamawokeafterwards,therehestoodbeforeherwithalittlecornhehadfound,andlaiditatherfeet;butasshehadnotsleptwell,shewasnaturallyinabadtemper."givethattoachicken,"shesaid,"anddon'tbealwaysstandinginmyway."
"whyareyouangrywithme?"repliedthelittlesinging-bird,"whathaveidone?"
"done!"repeatedtheportugueseduck,"yourmodeofexpressingyourselfisnotverypolite.imustcallyourattentiontothatfact."
"itwassunshinehereyesterday,"saidthelittlebird,"butto-dayitiscloudyandtheairisclose."
"youknowverylittleabouttheweather,ifancy,"sheretorted,"thedayisnotoveryet.don'tstandthere,lookingsostupid."
"butyouarelookingatmejustasthewickedeyeslookedwhenifellintotheyardyesterday."
"impertinentcreature!"exclaimedtheportugueseduck:"wouldyoucomparemewiththecat-thatbeastofprey?there'snotadropofmaliciousbloodinme.i'vetakenyourpart,andnowi'llteachyoubettermanners."sosaying,shemadeabiteatthelittlesinging-bird'shead,andhefelldeadontheground."nowwhateveristhemeaningofthis?""shesaid;"couldhenotbearevensuchalittlepeckasigavehim?thencertainlyhewasnotmadeforthisworld.i'vebeenlikeamothertohim,iknowthat,fori'veagoodheart."
thenthecockfromtheneighboringyardstuckhisheadin,andcrowedwithsteam-enginepower.
"you'llkillmewithyourcrowing,"shecried,"it'sallyourfault.he'slosthislife,andi'mverynearlosingmine."
"there'snotmuchofhimlyingthere,"observedthecock.
"speakofhimwithrespect,"saidtheportugueseduck,"forhehadmannersandeducation,andhecouldsing.hewasaffectionateandgentle,andthatisasrareaqualityinanimalsasinthosewhocallthemselveshumanbeings."
thenalltheduckscamecrowdingroundthelittledeadbird.duckshavestrongpassions,whethertheyfeelenvyorpity.therewasnothingtoenvyhere,sotheyallshowedagreatdealofpity,eventhetwochinese."weshallneverhaveanothersinging-birdagainamongstus;hewasalmostachinese,"theywhispered,andthentheyweptwithsuchanoisy,cluckingsound,thatalltheotherfowlscluckedtoo,buttheduckswentaboutwithreddereyesafterwards."wehaveheartsofourown,"theysaid,"nobodycandenythat."
"hearts!"