Lisa M. Ripperton

The Robin's Christmas Song

T HERE was once an old gray Pussy who, on a sunny Christmas morning, went down by the waterside to look about. Pretty soon along came a little Robin Redbreast. "Where are you going, little Robin?" says Pussy.

"I'm going to the king to sing him a song this bright Christmas morning," the little Robin replied.

"Come here, little Robin," said Pussy, "and I'll let you see some bonny white fur that grows like a ring round my neck."

But the little Robin said, "No, no, gray Pussy! No, no! You worried the wee Mousie yesterday, and you shall not have the chance to serve me as you did him."

So the little Robin flew away, and he kept flying till he came to a stone wall on the borders of a wood. There he saw a greedy Hawk sitting. The greedy Hawk said, "Where are you going, little Robin?"

"I'm going to the king to sing him a song this bright Christmas morning," the little Robin replied.

"Come here, little Robin," the greedy Hawk said, "and I'll let you see a pretty speckled feather in my wing."

But the little Robin said, "No, no, greedy Hawk! No, no! You pecked the sparrow yesterday, and I shall take care not to get near enough for you to peck me."

So the little Robin flew away, and he kept flying till he came to a great rock beside which he saw a sly Fox lying on the ground. The sly Fox said, "Where are you going, little Robin?"

"I'm going to the king to sing him a song this bright Christmas morning," the little Robin replied.

"Come here, little Robin," the sly Fox said, "and I'll let you see a pretty spot at the tip of my tail."

But the little Robin said, "No, no, sly Fox! No, no! You bit the wee Lamb yesterday, and I shall not go where you can get me between those sharp teeth of yours."

So the little Robin flew away, and he kept flying till he came to a rivulet, and on its banks he saw a small Boy sitting. The small Boy said, "Where are you going, little Robin?"

"I'm going to the king to sing him a song this bright Christmas morning," the little Robin replied.

"Come here, little Robin," the small Boy said, "and I'll give you some crumbs I have in my pocket."

But the little Robin said, "No, no, small Boy! No, no! You caught the Goldfinch yesterday, and I shall keep beyond your reach."

So the little Robin flew away, and he went on and on till he came to the king's palace. Then he sat on a windowsill and sang the king a beautiful song. The people in the palace listened while the Robin sang, and when he finished, the king said to the queen, "What shall we give to the little Robin for singing us this beautiful song?"

The queen replied, "He will not care for money, but we can give him some nice things to eat."

So they filled a plate from the royal table with all the things for which they thought the little Robin might care, and set it out on the windowsill. The little Robin ate, and after that he sang his Christmas song again and flew away to his home.