THE SUSPICIOUS JACKDAW.
effect on the old lady's mind; as it was, he interrupted his mistress's attention so much, that it is doubtful whether she remembered what her son had been talking of. And there was no sooner a pause in what the jackdaw probably regarded as a disagreeable subject, than he hopped to a private little cupboard that he kept under the turned-up edge of the carpet, and bringing out five or six mouldy bits of bread, laid them in a row on the rug before his mistress and her son, and walking about before them with an air of reflection, seemed as if he would have said, 'I must attend to my business, whether people talk or not.'
'I never saw such a queer fellow in my life as that bird is!' exclaimed the son.
'Why, Jack, you miser!' said his mistress; 'one would think you were starved.'
The jackdaw gabbled something which was no doubt meant for impertinence, till hearing footsteps outside the door, he hastily snatched up some of his mouldy property and flew with it to the top of the cabinet; then he stood staring at the remainder, fluttering his wings, and making a great outcry, for he did not dare to fly down for it, because his little tormentor had just rushed into the room.
'Papa, papa!' exclaimed the boy.
'Hold your tongue, Jack,' cried the grandmother; 'one at a time is enough.'
'Come, I will take you on my knee,' said his father, 'and then the daw will fly down for his bread.'
The daw no sooner saw his little enemy in a place of safety than he descended, snatched up his bread,
