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ome up above too； they put out their heads and pipesoftly； they have no feathers like their father and mother。 We havegood neighbours； both below and above。 How beautiful existence is！〃
The young ones above and below… those below were really onlyshadows in the water… were sparrows； their parents were sparrowstoo； and had taken possession of the empty swallows' nest of lastyear； and now lived in it as if it were their own property。
〃Are those the duck's children swimming here？〃 asked the youngsparrows when they saw the feathers on the water。
〃If you must ask questions； ask sensible ones；〃 said their mother。〃Don't you see that they are feathers； such as I wear and you willwear too？ But ours are finer。 Still； I should like to have them upin the nest； for they keep one warm。 I am very curious to know whatthe ducks were so startled about； not about us； certainly； althoughI did say 'peep' to you pretty loudly。 The thick…headed roses ought toknow why； but they know nothing at all； they only look at themselvesand smell。 I am heartily tired of such neighbours。〃
〃Listen to the dear little birds up there；〃 said the roses；〃they begin to want to sing too； but are not able to manage it yet。But it will soon e。 What a pleasure that must be！ It is fine tohave such cheerful neighbours。〃
Suddenly two horses came galloping up to be watered。 A peasant boyrode on one； and he had taken off all his clothes except his largebroad black hat。 The boy whistled like a bird； and rode into thepond where it was deepest； and as he passed the rose…bush he plucked arose and stuck it in his hat。 Now he looked dressed； and rode on。The other roses looked after their sister； and asked each other；〃Where can she be going to？〃 But none of them knew。
〃I should like to go out into the world for once；〃 said one；〃but here at home among our green leaves it is beautiful too。 Thewhole day long the sun shines bright and warm； and in the night thesky shines more beautifully still； we can see that through all thelittle holes in it。〃
They meant the stars； but they knew no better。
〃We make it lively about the house；〃 said the sparrow…mother； 〃andpeople say that a swallows' nest brings luck； so they are glad ofus。 But such neighbours as ours！ A rose…bush on the wall like thatcauses damp。 I daresay it will be taken away； then we shall；perhaps； have some corn growing here。 The roses are good for nothingbut to be looked at and to be smelt； or at most to be stuck in ahat。 Every year； as I have been told by my mother； they fall off。The farmer's wife preserves them and strews salt among them； then theyget a French name which I neither can pronounce nor care to； and areput into the fire to make a nice smell。 You see； that's their life；they exist only for the eye and the nose。 Now you know。〃
In the evening； when the gnats were playing about in the warmair and in the red clouds； the nightingale came and sang to theroses that the beautiful was like sunshine to the world； and thatthe beautiful lived for ever。 The roses thought that the nightingalewas singing about itself； and that one might easily have believed；they had no idea that the song was about them。 But they were verypleased with it； and wondered whether all the little sparrows couldbee nightingales。
〃I understand the song of that bird very well；〃 said the youngsparrows。 〃There was only one word that was not clear to me。 What does'the beautiful' mean？〃
〃Nothing at all；〃 answered their mother； 〃that's only somethingexternal。 Up at the Hall； where the pigeons have their own house；and corn and peas are strewn before them every day… I have dinedwith them myself； and that you shall do in time； too； for tell me whatpany you keep and I'll tell you who you are… up at the Hall theyhave two birds with green necks and a crest upon their heads； they canspread out their tails like a great wheel； and these are so brightwith various colours that it makes one's eyes ache。 These birds arecalled peacocks； and that is 'the beautiful。' If they were onlyplucked a little they would look no better than the rest of us。 Iwould have plucked them already if they had not been so big。〃
〃I'll pluck them；〃 piped the young sparrow； who had no feathersyet。
In the farmhouse lived a young married couple； they loved eachother dearly； were industrious and active； and everything in theirhome looked very nice。 On Sundays the young wife came down early；plucked a handful of the most beautiful roses； and put them into aglass of water； which she placed upon the cupboard。
〃Now I see that it is Sunday；〃 said the husband； kissing hislittle wife。 They sat down； read their hymn…book； and held eachother by the hand； while the sun shone down upon the fresh roses andupon them。
〃This sight is really too tedious；〃 said the sparrow…mother； whocould see into the room from her nest； and she flew away。
The same thing happened on the following Sunday； for everySunday fresh roses were put into the glass； but the rose…bushbloomed as beautifully as ever。 The young sparrows now had feathers；and wanted very much to fly with their mother； but she would 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