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Little Bud
by
Such a twittering and fluttering as went on while they talked the matter over, asked many questions, and admired the pretty little creature who only knew her name and nothing more!
“Shall you keep her?” asked the robin, as he puffed out his red waistcoat and looked very wise.
“We dare not send her away,” said the linnets.
“She will be a great deal of care,” said the wren.
“You never can teach her to fly, and what will you do when your own children are gone?” asked the wood dove, who was very tender-hearted.
“You will have to make a new frock every day, and that will be so much work,” said the yellow-bird, who was very proud of her own gay gown and black velvet hood.
“I think some bad elf put her here to bring you trouble. I’d push her out of the nest and let her take care of herself,” advised the woodpecker, wondering if the plump child would be as good to eat as the worms he hammered out of the trees.
“No, no!” cried the brown thrush; “she is too pretty to bring harm. Keep her till you see what she can do, and perhaps she may be a good sprite after all.”
“She sings almost as well as I do, and I shall like to add her songs to the many I already know,” said the blackbird, who had lovely concerts in the meadow all by himself.
“Yes, we will wait a little; and if we cannot decide, by and by we will ask your advice, neighbors,” said the linnets, beginning to feel rather proud of the curious stranger, since her coming made such a stir in the wood.
The birds flew away; and Bud settled down as one of the family, making herself so pleasant that all loved her and willingly crowded together to make room for her in the nest. The mother brooded over her at night, and made her fresh gowns every day when the old ones withered up; the father brought her dew to wash in and to drink, and flew far and wide to find ripe berries for her to eat; while the young birds were never tired of hearing her sing, watching her dance on the edge of the nest, or learning the pretty plays she taught them. Every one was very kind and waited patiently to see what would come. But when at last the little birds flew away, the parents wanted to go with them, and did not like to leave Bud all alone.
“I’m not afraid,” she said, “for now I am strong enough to take care of myself. All the birds know me, and I shall not be lonely. Carry me down to the grass below, and let me run about and find my own food and clothes as your children do. I won’t forget you, but you need not trouble about me any more.”
So Papa Linnet took her on his back, as often before, and flew down to the softest place below, and there they left her with a tender good-by; for they had to watch over their young ones, who were trying their wings and wandering far and wide.
“I shall be taken care of as the flowers are,” said Bud, when she found herself sitting on a pebble beside the path that went through the pleasant wood, full of happy little creatures busy with their work or play.
“I wish I were a bird, then I could fly about and see the world; or a fairy, then I could do splendid things; or even a flower for some one to love and carry away. I wonder what I was made for, and what I can do,–such a little thing in this great world! I’m sure I don’t know; but I can be happy and kind, and try to help all I see, then I shall make friends and not feel lonely very long.”