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!"