Page 35 - Fairbrass

‘And mine will come a little later on

when the cherries are ripe/ said the Bull­
finch ; 1 when you will want them all for

the house, and when I shall get up earlier
than you, and have most of them for myself.

Ha, ha ! that's what I call business/
‘And what do you think of m ine?’ said

the Kestrel, as he suddenly dropped from
his poise in the blue sky and struck poor

boastful Bully with unerring aim. The
Kestrel would have made off with his prey,

but in deep distress Fairbrass rushed in, too
late, however, to do good. The Hawk

darted away with an angry shriek, and the
poor little songster throbbed its heart out in

the boy’s warm hand. As Fairbrass stroked
its soft and beautifully carmine-tinted breast,

and thought of the cherries that the poor
thing (little thief though he might be) would

never enjoy, his eyes filled with tears, and
throwing himself on the ground, he sobbed
o u t:

‘ I hate business I It is all horrid selfish­

ness and eating each other up. The House