12 Mother Magpie’s Mischief

CHAPTER 12 Mother Magpie's Mischief Old Mother Magpie was just about the busiest creature in the forest. But there is a difference between being busy and working hard. You can be very busy but not hardworking at all. This was the case with Mother Magpie. She was into everybody's business but her own. She was here, there, and everywhere, but never in her own nest. She knew what everyone else was doing. And she had words of advice for every bird and beast in the

forest. One day Mother Magpie flew up to the top of the oak tree where old Parson Too- Whit lived. She told him exactly how awful everyone in the forest was. "You ought to scold all the badly behaving creatures in next Sunday's sermon," she said. Then she left the old gentleman in a dazed and confused state and peeped into Mrs. Oriole's nest. Mother Magpie chattered so much to Mrs. Oriole that she was more bewildered than if a terrible wind had shook her. "Believe me, my dear," Mother Magpie cheeped, "this is no way to build a nest. It swings in the air like an empty stocking. I never built a nest like this one, and I never had a single problem with my nests. You complain of a headache whenever I visit. It's on account of the way your nest swings in

the air, I do declare," Mother Magpie told her as she puffed out her chest. "Orioles always build their nests this way," Mrs. Oriole softly said. Mother Magpie made her feel shy. "Fiddlesticks!" said Mother Magpie. "You'll never learn if you never try. Just ask Dr. Kite— he agrees with me. Have you ever been to any of Dr. Kite's lectures?" "No. I can't leave my eggs," Mrs. Oriole explained. "Nonsense! Let your husband sit on the eggs," Mother Magpie advised. "He should sit on them half the time to give you a chance to move around and exercise. My husband does this for me. I shall have to speak to yours," Mother Magpie said. "Oh, please do not," said Mrs. Oriole. "We'll see about that," Mother Magpie said, and flew off in a huff.

Later that day, when Tommy Oriole returned to the nest, he was very upset. "Have you been gossiping about me, your husband, to Mother Magpie?" he asked Mrs. Oriole. "She simply will not leave me be," Mrs. Oriole declared. "I don't say a word and she insists on giving me advice. She thinks you should mind the eggs half the time so I can move around and exercise. Not really a bad idea, if you think about it," Mrs. Oriole dared to say. "Tell her to mind her own business," Tommy Oriole said. "I am a society bird, and you must learn to live with that, dear wife. Be glad that you have a brilliant and handsome husband, able to sing like an angel. I must attend concerts and spend time around the forest. I cannot simply stay in the nest and warm the eggs. I have very

important business," Tommy explained. Now, Tommy Oriole was very much annoyed with Mother Magpie for butting into his nest life. After all, Mrs. Oriole had never complained about him before Mother Magpie brought him to her attention. Meanwhile, Mother Magpie was off minding someone else's business. She went down to Water-Dock Lane to visit the old music teacher, Dr. Bullfrog. The poor old doctor was a simple creature, good and kind. He had led the forest choir for as long as anyone could remember. Lately, however, the forest was no longer a simple place to live. How had the forest changed? Forest animals had always been polite and respectful. But just recently, a number of young and rowdy creatures had tried to interrupt Dr. Bullfrog's forest choir concerts! That wasn't all. Some of the young rascals

had begun gossiping about the good doctor. They made fun of the way he sang in his deep, double bass voice. They refused to be part of the choir, or even go to the concerts. They wanted a new choir leader who would play different and new sorts of music. Dr. Bullfrog knew nothing about this. He simply went about his business and prepared for the next forest choir concert. That is, until Mother Magpie came to visit. "Well, Dr. Bullfrog, I hope you know that I think your music is simply wonderful. Young people today know nothing about music! They have no respect for our age group and the way we do things. I think your teaching and singing have never been better. Honestly, these young folks never listen to reasonable folks," Mother Magpie chattered on. Dr. Bullfrog cleared his throat and said. "I'm afraid I don't understand you, ma'am."