ould not allowit； and so they had to stay at home。 In one of her flights； however itmay have happened； she was caught； before she was aware of it； in ahorse…hair which some boys had attached to a tree。 Thehorse…hair was drawn tightly round her leg… as tightly as if thelatter were to be cut off； she was in great pain and terror。 Theboys came running up and seized her； and in no gentle way either。
〃It's only a sparrow；〃 they said； they did not； however； let hergo； but took her home with them； and every time she cried they hit heron the beak。
In the farmhouse was an old man who understood making soap intocakes and balls； both for shaving and washing。 He was a merry old man；always wandering about。 On seeing the sparrow which the boys hadbrought； and which they said they did not want； he asked； 〃Shall wemake it look very pretty？〃
At these words an icy shudder ran through the sparrow…mother。
Out of his box； in which were the most beautiful colours； theold man took a quantity of shining leaf…gold； while the boys had to goand fetch some white of egg； with which the sparrow was to besmeared all over； the gold was stuck on to this； and thesparrow…mother was now gilded all over。 But she； trembling in everylimb； did not think of the adornment。 Then the soap…man tore off asmall piece from the red lining of his old jacket； and cutting it soas to make it look like a cock's b； he stuck it to the bird's head。
〃Now you will see the gold…jacket fly；〃 said the old man；letting the sparrow go； which flew away in deadly fear； with the sunshining upon her。 How she glittered！ All the sparrows； and even acrow… and an old boy he was too… were startled at the sight； but stillthey flew after her to learn what kind of strange bird she was。
Driven by fear and horror； she flew homeward； she was almostsinking fainting to the earth； while the flock of pursuing birdsincreased； some even attempting to peck at her。
〃Look at her！ Look at her！〃 they all cried。
〃Look at her！ Look at her〃 cried her little ones。 as sheapproached the nest。 〃That is certainly a young peacock； for itglitters in all colours； it makes one's eyes ache； as mother toldus。 Peep！ that's 'the beautiful'。〃 And then they pecked at the birdwith their little beaks so that it was impossible for her to getinto the nest； she was so exhausted that she couldn't even say 〃Peep！〃much less 〃I am your own mother！〃 The other birds； too； now fellupon the sparrow and plucked off feather after feather until shefell bleeding into the rose…bush。
〃Poor creature！〃 said all the roses； 〃only be still； and we willhide you。 Lean your little head against us。
The sparrow spread out her wings once more； then drew them closelyto her； and lay dead near the neighbouring family； the beautiful freshroses。
〃Peep！〃 sounded from the nest。 〃Where can mother be so long？It's more than I can understand。 It cannot be a trick of hers； andmean that we are now to take care of ourselves。 She has left us thehouse as an inheritance； but to which of us is it to belong when wehave families of our own？〃
〃Yes； it won't do for you to stay with me when I increase myhousehold with a wife and children；〃' said the smallest。
〃I daresay I shall have more wives and children than you；〃 saidthe second。
〃But I am the eldest！〃 exclaimed the third。 Then they all gotexcited； they hit out with their wings； pecked with their beaks； andflop！ one after another was thrown out of the nest。 There they laywith their anger； holding their heads on one side and blinking the eyethat was turned upwards。 That was their way of looking foolish。
They could fly a little； by practice they learned to improve；and at last they agreed upon a sign by which to recognise each otherif they should meet in the world later on。 It was to be one 〃Peep！〃and three scratches on the ground with the left foot。
The young one who had remained behind in the nest made himselfas broad as he could； for he was the proprietor。 But this greatnessdid not last long。 In the night the red flames burst through thewindow and seized the roof； the dry straw blazed up high； and thewhole house； together with the young sparrow； was burned。 The twoothers； who wanted to marry； thus saved their lives by a stroke ofluck。
When the sun rose again and everything looked as refreshed as ifit had had a quiet sleep； there only remained of the farmhouse a fewblack charred beams leaning against the chimney； which was now its ownmaster。 Thick smoke still rose from the ruins； but the rose…bush stoodyonder； fresh； blooming； and untouched； every flower and every twigbeing reflected in the clear water。
〃How beautifully the roses bloom before the ruined house；〃exclaimed a passer…by。 〃A pleasanter picture cannot be imagined。 Imust have that。〃 And the man took out of his portfolio a little bookwith white leaves： he was a painter； and with his pencil he drew thesmoking house； the charred beams and the overhanging chimney； whichbent more and more； in the foreground he put the large； bloomingrose…bush； which presented a charming view。 For its sake alone thewhole picture had been drawn。
Later in the day the two sparrows who had been born there came by。〃Where is the house？〃 they asked。 〃Where is the nest？ Peep！ All isburned and our strong brother too。 That's what he has now forkeeping the nest。 The roses got off very well； there they stillstand with their red cheeks。 They certainly do not mourn at theirneighbours' misfortunes。 I don't want to talk to them； and it looksmiserable here… that's my opinion。〃 And away they went。
On a beautiful sunny autumn day… one could almost have believed itwas still the middle of summer… there hopped about in the dryclean…swept courtyard before the principal entrance of the Hall anumber of black； white； and gaily…coloured pigeons； all shining in thesunlight。 The pigeon…mothers said to their young ones： 〃Stand ingroups； stand in groups！ for that looks much better。〃
〃What kind of creatures are those little grey ones that runabout behind us？〃 asked an old pigeon； with red and green in her eyes。〃Little grey ones！ Little grey ones！〃 she cried。
〃They are sparrows； and good creatures。 We have always had thereputation of being pious； so we will allow them to pick up the cornwith us； they don't interrupt our talk； and they scrape so prettilywhen they bow。〃
Indeed they were continually making three foot…scrapings withthe left foot and also said 〃Peep！〃 By this means they recognised eachother； for they were the sparrows from the nest on the burned house。
〃Here is excellent fare！〃 said the sparrow。 The pigeons struttedround one another； puffed out their chests mightily； and had their ownprivate views and opinions。
〃Do you see that pouter pigeon？〃 said one to the other。 〃Do yousee how she swallows the peas？ She eats too many； and the best onestoo。 Curoo！ Curoo！ How she lifts her crest； the ugly； spitefulcreature！ Curoo！ Curoo！〃 And the eyes of all sparkled with malice。〃Stand in groups！ Stand in groups！ Little grey ones； little grey ones！Curoo； curoo； curoo！〃
So their chatter ran on； and so it will run on for thousands ofyears。 The sparrows ate lustily； they listened attentively； and evenstood in the ranks with the others； but it did not suit them a