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What The Swallows Did
by
“‘I’ll catch them, one and all, and keep them here; that is better than pulling the place down, as I planned at first. Those swallows little know what they have done; but I’ll show them I don’t forget.'”
On hearing this a general wail arose, and Mrs. Wing fainted entirely away. Madam Sooty-back was quite satisfied with the effect she had produced, and departed, saying loftily:
“I’m sorry for you, Mrs. Wing, and forgive your rude speech about my being related to chimney-sweeps. One can’t expect good manners from persons brought up in mud houses, and entirely shut out from good society. If I hear any thing more, I’ll let you know.”
Away she flew; and poor Mrs. Wing would have had another fit, if they hadn’t tickled her with a feather, and fanned her so violently that she was nearly blown off her nest by the breeze they raised.
“What shall we do?” she cried.
“Nothing, but wait. I dare say, Mrs. Sooty-back is mistaken; at any rate, we can’t get away without leaving our children, for they can’t fly yet. Let us wait, and see what happens. If the worst comes, we shall have done our duty, and will all die together.”
As no one could suggest any thing better, Mrs. Dart’s advice was taken, and they waited. On the afternoon of the same day, Dr. Banks, a sand-swallow, who lived in a subterranean village over by the great sand-bank, looked in to see Mrs. Wing, and cheered her by the following bit of news:
“The man was down at the poor-house to-day, and took away little Nan, the orphan baby. I saw him carry her to Will’s mother, and heard him ask her to take care of it for a time. He paid her well, and she seemed glad to do it; for Will needs help, and now he can have it. An excellent arrangement, I think. Bless me, ma’am! what’s the matter? Your pulse is altogether too fast, and you look feverish.”
No wonder the doctor looked surprised; for Mrs. Wing suddenly gave a skip, and flapped her wings, with a shrill chirp, exclaiming, as she looked about her triumphantly:
“Now, who was right? Who has done good, not harm, by what you call ‘gossip’? Who has been a martyr, and patiently borne all kinds of blame, injustice, and disrespect? Yes, indeed! the man saw the sense of my words; he took my advice; he will show his gratitude by some good turn yet; and, if half a dozen poor souls are helped, it will be my doing, and mine alone.”
Here she had to stop for breath; and her neighbors all looked at one another, feeling undecided whether to own they were wrong, or to put Mrs. Wing down. Every one twittered and chirped, and made a great noise; but no one would give up, and all went to roost in a great state of uncertainty. But, the next day, it became evident that Mrs. Wing was right; for Major Bumble-bee came buzzing in to tell them that old Daddy Winter’s hut was empty, and his white head had been seen in the sunny porch of the great house.
After this the swallows gave in; and, as no harm came to them, they had a jubilee in honor of the occasion. Mrs. Wing was president, and received a vote of thanks for the good she had done, and the credit she had bestowed upon the town by her wisdom and courage. She was much elated by all this; but her fright had been of service, and she bore her honors more meekly than one would have supposed. To be sure, she cut Mrs. Sooty-back when they met; assumed an injured air, when some of her neighbors passed her; and said, “I told you so,” a dozen times a day to her husband, who got so many curtain lectures that he took to sleeping on the highest rafter, pretending that the children’s noise disturbed him.