"Tu-whit! Tu-whit! Tu-whee!
Will you listen to me?
Who stole four eggs I laid,
And the nice nest I made?"
"Not I," said the cow, "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," said the cow, "Moo-oo!
Such a thing I'd never do."
"Tu-whit! Tu-whit! Tu-whee!
Will you listen to me?
Who stole four eggs I laid,
And the nice nest I made?"
"Not I," said the dog, "Bow-wow!
I'm not so mean anyhow!
I gave hairs the nest to make,
But the nest I did not take.
Not I," said the dog, "Bow-wow!
I'm not so mean, I vow."
"Tu-whit! Tu-whit! Tu-whee!
Will you listen to me?
Who stole four eggs I laid,
And the nice nest I made?"
"Coo-coo! Coo-coo! Coo-coo!
Let me speak a few words too!
Who stole that pretty nest
From poor little yellowbreast?"
"Not I," said the sheep, "Oh, no!
I wouldn't treat a poor bird so.
I gave wool the nest to line,
But the nest was none of mine.
Baa! Baa!" said the sheep, "Oh, no!
I wouldn't treat a poor bird so."
"Tu-whit! Tu-whit! Tu-whee!
Will you listen to me?
Who stole four eggs I laid,
And the nice nest I made?"
"Coo-coo! Coo-coo! Coo-coo!
Let me speak a few words too!
Who stole that pretty nest
From poor little yellowbreast?"
"Caw! Caw!" cried the crow;
"I too should like to know
What thief took away
A bird's nest to-day?"
"Cluck! Cluck!" said the hen;
"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!" said the hen;
"Don't ask me again."
"Chirr-a-whirr! Chirr-a-whirr!
All the birds make a stir!
Let us find out his name,
And all cry, 'For shame!' "
"I would not rob a bird,"
Said little Mary Green;
"I think I never heard
Of anything so mean."
"It is very cruel, too,"
Said little Alice Neal;
"I wonder if he knew
How sad the birds would feel?"
A little boy hung down his head,
And went and hid behind the bed;
For he stole that pretty nest
From poor little yellowbreast;
And he felt so full of shame,
He didn't like to tell his name.
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