Two blackbirds had built their nest in the thick bough of a tree which
overhung a high paling. Here they fancied themselves secure from the
prying eyes of idle boys or marauding cats. The hen laid her eggs in
her new abode, and in due time several fledgelings were hatched, which
her faithful mate assisted her to rear. While in the full enjoyment of
their happiness, watching over their helpless young ones, they one day
saw what to them appeared a terrific monster--a large cat--leap to the
top of the paling, and begin cautiously creeping along it. So narrow
was it, however, that even Grimalkin could not venture to move fast.
The parent blackbirds watched him with beating hearts as he crept on and
on, his savage eyes turned up ever and anon when he stepped towards
their nest, where their young ones were chirping merrily, unconscious of
danger. In another instant he might make his fatal spring, and seize
them in his cruel jaws. The heart of the tender mother urged her to
risk her own life for the sake of her offspring. Downward she flew,
uttering loud screams of anger almost within reach of the marauder, but
the narrowness of the paling prevented him from leaping forward and
seizing her in his claws. The brave father was not behind his mate in
courage. He too pitched on the top of the fence directly in front of
Grimalkin. As the cat crept on he retreated, hoping to draw her past
his nest; but the cruel plunderer's eye was too securely fixed on that.
The cock, seeing this, darted with the courage of despair on the back of
his enemy, and assailed him with such fierce and repeated pecks on the
head, that the cat, losing his balance, fell to the ground, and,
astonished at the unexpected attack, scampered off, resolved, I hope,
never again to molest the heroic blackbirds; while they flew back to the
nest they had so bravely defended.