Once upon a time, so many days ago that it really makes no difference as
to exactly when it did happen, a very respectable and industrious couple
by the name of Sparrow lived a short distance in the country. They had a
cozy little home in a tree so stout that there was no need of insuring
it against damage by wind, and they were not only contented with their
lot in life, but were very happy.
They were by no means ignorant of the city, which could be seen from the
topmost branches of their home, for they had lived there in their
younger days, moving into the country only when they felt it absolutely
necessary to their comfort to get away from the bustle and confusion
that almost distracted them.
Their friends and acquaintances all said they were very foolish to hide
themselves in such a quiet place, even if it was cozy, and tried to
persuade them to move back to town; but they paid very little attention
to such talk, hardly even making any answer, and when they had two
little fluffy children, Mrs. Sparrow declared that nothing could tempt
her to leave their country home. You see, she thought it would be better
to keep the children at that place, where she could be sure that they
would not be out late at night, or get into mischief, than to take them
where they might make bad acquaintances, for she loved these two boys of
hers very dearly, even though they had got only about half as many wing
and tail feathers as they would have when they were older.
But the strangest portion of the story is that these two young Sparrows
not only thought they knew quite as much as their parents did, but they
had an idea that the only place for Sparrows with any degree of spirit
to live in was the city, and almost from the time their noses were poked
out of the shell they coaxed their father and mother to move into town,
where there was more to be seen and enjoyed. Whenever the children
teased, old father Sparrow would shake his head knowingly, as if he did
not even dare to tell how wicked the great city was, and mother Sparrow
would offer to show them a nice fat worm if they would try and be
contented at home, instead of wanting to go where they had no business,
and where they would not be nearly so comfortable.
The Sparrow boys always took the worm their mother offered, and they
winked at each other while they were eating it, as if to say that their
father was getting entirely too old to know what was best for boys,
while they were very certain they knew exactly what they should or
should not do.
They thought so much about the city, and how nice it would be to live
there, that they talked of very little else, and on several occasions
even neglected to oil their feathers as they had been taught, which
caused them to look anything rather than neat.
One morning, after they had teased their father, and been given a feast
by their mother, which saved them the labor of hunting for breakfast,
they accidentally came upon a pretty little stream whose waters were as
clear as crystal, and along the banks of which was a rail fence that
made a capital roosting place. Here, of course, they began to talk over
the city life they were so anxious to lead, when one of them chanced to
see his reflection in the water.
The image he saw was that of two rather ragged, untidy-looking birds;
but he knew it was a reflection of himself and his brother, and he
thought it was about as beautiful as anything that could be imagined.
"There! that is what I call a good-looking bird; not too young, nor yet
too old; a good-shaped head, delicate feet, and a coat that will be just
about perfect after I get through moulting."
Then the two looked at the reflections very critically, seeing points of
beauty in each that had never even been suspected by their mother, and
praising themselves and each other until the flowers almost hung their
heads in shame that their cousins the birds could be so vain. If they
had thought they saw the image of any one but themselves, they would
very soon have discovered that the tails were not as long or broad as
they should have been, that the wings were ragged-looking because of the
pin-feathers, that they were untidy, and a dozen other glaring faults;
but as it was, they thought it was not possible any other birds could be
so beautiful.
"I'll tell you what we can do," said the elder, after he had satisfied
himself that what made him look cross-eyed was the rippling of the water
rather than a personal defect; "we can go over to the city for one day
without letting father or mother know anything about it. We will start
early, and if we don't create a sensation, I am very much mistaken in my
ideas of the world."
Both these young Sparrows knew that it was very wrong for them to go
away without their parents' permission; but the desire to show their
beautiful figures to the city birds, and see a bit of the world at the
same time, caused them to put such an idea out of their minds as far as
possible. It was not such a very long journey, and there seemed to be
hardly a chance that they would be missed; but even if they were, it was
quite certain no one would mistrust where they had gone.
While they were making preparations for the journey--and they had
considerable to do in the way of consulting some friends as to the best
course to fly, laying by a store of food in order not to be delayed in
the start, and attending to their toilets--they said nothing to their
parents relative to their desire to live in the city. This pleased their
mother greatly, for she hoped they had given up such a foolish idea.
At last everything was in readiness, and making some excuse to their
parents, such as that they were going out for berries or on a
butterfly-hunt, they started toward the city. It was a much longer
journey than they had supposed, for from their home it seemed as if the
city was close at hand; but neither of them thought of turning back,
even though they were terribly tired.
The younger was in favor of alighting on Broadway, where they could be
seen by every one, but the elder was much wiser.
"We will fly to the top of the City Hall, and we shall not have been
there many moments before half the Sparrows in town will know of our
arrival, and after that I do not fancy we shall have much trouble in
making the acquaintance of the most distinguished birds in town."
Therefore they did not stop in their flight until the building in
question was reached, although they saw many strange and curious things
that they were anxious to investigate.
"Now get right on the edge of the roof, and see how quickly people will
find out we are here," said the elder, as he gave a little shake of his
tail to make sure each feather was in sight.
In one particular he was correct: they were noticed very quickly,
although hardly in the way he had supposed. In less than five minutes
from the time they first took possession of their lofty perch a party of
young city Sparrows came up to arrange their feathers in the latest
fashion after having taken their noonday bath.
"Will you look at those birds?" cried one, with a laugh and a twitter,
as he shook his wings in the direction of the new-comers. "They must
have worn those same feathers since last spring, they are so out of
style."
Then another spoke of the wretched taste displayed in the cut of the
strangers' tails, while the third actually crowded against the country
Sparrows until he nearly pushed them from the roof.
The visitors were very angry, but they did not dare to say anything; for
as many as a dozen other city fellows had joined the first party, all of
whom made all possible sport of these two who had thought themselves so
beautiful, until an old gray-headed Sparrow, who was carrying a large
bug to his wife, stopped to see what the matter was.
He very soon obliged the pert young city fellows to stop their nonsense,
and then asked the strangers where they came from, and how they chanced
to be there. It was some time before the two vain birds would tell their
story; but they did so at last, and when they had finished, the old bird
said:
"In the first place, you deserve very much harsher treatment than you
have received, because of having come here against your parents' wishes.
Go home at once, and remember that it is much safer to trust to what
your father says than to try to find out for yourselves. As to your
beauty, of that you should allow others to judge. There is an old maxim
which comes very near the truth, and that is, 'Handsome is who handsome
does,' the true meaning of which I think you can now readily
understand."
The birds were ashamed of themselves almost before the old gentleman had
finished speaking, and just as soon as it was possible for them to leave
him they started for home, where they have ever since remained, studying
the maxim, and trying to profit by it.