1. Spring was gone, and summer, with its warm days, had come.
2. At an old farm-house there were a great many martins to be seen. They had come over the seas to spend the summer there.
3. They were very busy. Some were mending old nests; others were building new ones.
4. A pair of young birds had chosen a cosy place. They were building a nest in the corner of an old window.
5. All day long they kept flying to and fro, toget mud for the walls of their little house. They never seemed to tire.
6. At last their work was done. The walls were dry and firm. There were only a few soft feathers wanted inside, to make a warm bed for the baby birds.
7. Mr. and Mrs. Martin were so pleased with their work, that they thought they would have a little treat. Off they flew to get a nice supper of flies
8. When they got back to their new home, they saw a big fat bird peeping out at the door.
9. “I beg your pardon, sir,” said Mrs. Martin, “but you have made a mistake. This is my house.”
10. “Your house! I don’t know about that,” said the big fat sparrow. “I found the house empty, and it suits me very well; so I mean to stay here.”
Yes, and he had brought his wife with him, too!
11. Then up hopped Mr. Martin. But in spite of all he could say, the sparrows would not move. So rather than fight about it, he and Mrs.Martin very sadly gave up their neat little nest.
WORD SPELLING
build´-ers co´-sy pleased emp´-ty
mar´-tins cor´-ner sup´-per suits
pairfl y´-ing par´-don hopped
chos´-en feath´-ersmis-take´spite
WORD EXERCISE
Mr.few treat to be seen brought
Mrs. flew greatthey saw thought