Who Stole the Bird's Nest

"Tu-whit! Tu-whit! Tu-whee!

Will you listen to me?

Who stole four eggs I laid,

And the nice nest I made?"

"Not I," said the cow, "Moo-oo!

Such a thing I'd never do,

I gave you a wisp of hay,

But didn't take your nest away.

Not I," said the cow, "Moo-oo!

Such a thing I'd never do."

"Tu-whit! Tu-whit! Tu-whee!

Will you listen to me?

Who stole four eggs I laid,

And the nice nest I made?"

"Not I," said the dog, "Bow-wow!

I'm not so mean anyhow!

I gave hairs the nest to make,

But the nest I did not take.

Not I," said the dog, "Bow-wow!

I'm not so mean, I vow."

"Tu-whit! Tu-whit! Tu-whee!

Will you listen to me?

Who stole four eggs I laid,

And the nice nest I made?"

"Coo-coo! Coo-coo! Coo-coo!

Let me speak a few words too!

Who stole that pretty nest

From poor little yellowbreast?"

"Not I," said the sheep, "Oh, no!

I wouldn't treat a poor bird so.

I gave wool the nest to line,

But the nest was none of mine.

Baa! Baa!" said the sheep, "Oh, no!

I wouldn't treat a poor bird so."

"Tu-whit! Tu-whit! Tu-whee!

Will you listen to me?

Who stole four eggs I laid,

And the nice nest I made?"

"Coo-coo! Coo-coo! Coo-coo!

Let me speak a few words too!

Who stole that pretty nest

From poor little yellowbreast?"

"Caw! Caw!" cried the crow;

"I too should like to know

What thief took away

A bird's nest to-day?"

"Cluck! Cluck!" said the hen;

"Don't ask me again.

Why, I haven't a chick

Would do such a trick.

We all gave her a feather,

And she wove them together.

I'd scorn to intrude

On her and her brood.

Cluck! Cluck!" said the hen;

"Don't ask me again."

"Chirr-a-whirr! Chirr-a-whirr!

All the birds make a stir!

Let us find out his name,

And all cry, 'For shame!' "

"I would not rob a bird,"

Said little Mary Green;

"I think I never heard

Of anything so mean."

"It is very cruel, too,"

Said little Alice Neal;

"I wonder if he knew

How sad the birds would feel?"

A little boy hung down his head,

And went and hid behind the bed;

For he  stole that pretty nest

From poor little yellowbreast;

And he felt so full of shame,

He didn't like to tell his name.