# The Sparrow

- Source: McGuffey's Second Reader (second-reader.gutenberg.org), Public domain, William Holmes McGuffey, 1879, via Project Gutenberg
- Reading level: Grades 1 and 2
- Subjects: Poems
- Topics: chirp, don't, little, long, asking, away
- Length: 124 words, about 1 min
- Original: <https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14668>
- Page: <https://sprout.rootsofreason.org/r/mcguffey-second/second-27-lesson-27>
- Open in Sprouts: <https://sprout.rootsofreason.org/?read=mcguffey-second/second-27-lesson-27>

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THE SPARROW.

- Glad to see you, little bird;  
  'Twas your little chirp I heard:  
  What did you intend to say?  
  "Give me something this cold day"?
- That I will, and plenty, too;  
  All the crumbs I saved for you.  
  Don't be frightened—here's a treat:  
  I will wait and see you eat.
- Shocking tales I hear of you;  
  Chirp, and tell me, are they true?  
  Robbing all the summer long;  
  Don't you think it very wrong?
- Thomas says you steal his wheat;  
  John complains, his plums you eat—  
  Choose the ripest for your share,  
  Never asking whose they are.
- But I will not try to know  
  What you did so long ago:  
  There's your breakfast, eat away;  
  Come to see me every day.

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## Picture credits

- illustrator not named in this edition, Public domain (<https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14668>)
- illustrator not named in this edition, Public domain (<https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14668>)
- illustrator not named in this edition, Public domain (<https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14668>)