A sparrow was one day flying over a road when he saw lying there a long
strip of rag.
"Ah!" said he, "that would be nice for the nest we are building; I will
take it home." So he picked up one end in his beak and flew away with
it, but the wind blew the long streamer about his wings, and down he
came, tumbling in the dust. Soon he was up again, and, after giving
himself a little shake, he took the rag by the other end and mounted in
the air. But again it entangled his wings, and he was soon on the
ground. Next he seized it in the middle, but now there were =two= loose
ends, and he was entangled more quickly than before.
Then he stopped to think for a minute, and looked at the rag as much as
to say: "What shall I do with you next"? An idea struck him. He hopped
up to the rag, and with his beak and claws rolled it into a nice little
ball. Then he drove his beak into it, shook his head once or twice to
make sure that the ends were fast, and flew away in triumph.