J. H. Stickney

The Hawk and the Nightingale

A NIGHTINGALE sitting on the top of an oak, singing her evening song, was spied by a hungry Hawk, who swooped down and seized her. The frightened Nightingale prayed the Hawk to let her go.

"If you are hungry," said she, "why not catch some large bird? I am not big enough for even a luncheon."

"Do you happen to see many large birds flying about?" said the Hawk.

"You are the only bird I have seen to-day, and I should be foolish indeed to let you go for the sake of larger birds that are not in sight. A morsel is better than nothing."