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“Indeed you do, gossip,” cried Dart and Skim; for Wing was an excellent bird, in spite of the good opinion she had of herself.

“Thank you: well, then, such being the known fact, I may give advice on the subject as one having authority; and, if it were possible, I’d give that man a bit of my mind.”

“You have, madam, you have; and I shall not forget it. Thank you, neighbors, and good night,” said the man, as he left the barn, with the first smile on his face which it had worn for many days.

“Mercy on us! I do believe the creature heard every thing we said,” cried Mrs. Wing, nearly tumbling off the beam, in her surprise.

“He certainly did; so I’m glad I was guarded in my remarks,” replied Mrs. Skim, laughing at her neighbor’s dismay.

“Dear me! dear me! what did I say?” cried Mrs. Wing, in a great twitter.

“You spoke with more than your usual bluntness, and some of your expressions were rather strong, I must confess; but I don’t think any harm will come of it. We are of too little consequence for our criticisms or opinions to annoy him,” said Mrs. Dart consolingly.

“I don’t know that, ma’am,” returned Mrs. Wing, sharply: for she was much ruffled and out of temper. “A cat may look at a king; and a bird may teach a man, if the bird is the wisest. He may destroy my nest, and take my life; but I feel that I have done my duty, and shall meet affliction with a firmness which will be an example to that indolent, ungrateful man.”

In spite of her boasted firmness, Mrs. Wing dropped her voice, and peeped over the beam, to be sure the man was gone before she called him names; and then flew away, to discover what he meant to do about it.

For several days, there was much excitement in Twittertown; for news of what had happened flew from nest to nest, and every bird was anxious to know what revenge the man would take for the impertinent remarks which had been made about him.

Mrs. Wing was in a dreadful state of mind, expecting an assault, and the destruction of her entire family. Every one blamed her. Her husband lectured; the young birds chirped, “Chatterbox, chatterbox,” as she passed; and her best friends were a little cool. All this made her very meek for a time; and she scarcely opened her bill, except to eat.

A guard was set day and night, to see if any danger approached; and a row of swallows might be seen on the ridgepole at all hours. If any one entered the barn, dozens of little black heads peeped cautiously over the edges of the nests, and there was much flying to and fro with reports and rumors; for all the birds in the town soon knew that something had happened.

The day after the imprudent conversation, a chimney-swallow came to call on Mrs. Wing; and, the moment she was seated on the beam, she began:

“My dear creature, I feel for you in your trying position,–indeed I do, and came over at once to warn you of your danger.”

“Mercy on us! what is coming?” cried Mrs. Wing, covering her brood with trembling wings, and looking quite wild with alarm.

“Be calm, my friend, and bear with firmness the consequences of your folly,” replied Mrs. Sooty-back, who didn’t like Mrs. Wing, because she prided herself on her family, and rather looked down on chimney-swallows. “You know, ma’am, I live at the great house, and am in the way of seeing and hearing all that goes on there. No fire is lighted in the study now; but my landlord still sits on the hearth, and I can overhear every word he says. Last evening, after my darlings were asleep, and my husband gone out, I went down and sat on the andiron, as I often do; for the fireplace is full of oak boughs, and I can peep out unseen. My landlord sat there, looking a trifle more cheerful than usual, and I heard him say, in a very decided tone: