There was a war in Spain.
The soldiers lived in tents.
The Emperor lived in a tent, too.
The Emperor had a large tent.

The soldiers had small tents.

It rained many days.

The soldiers were wet.

They were tired and cross.

One day they were pleased.

What do you think pleased them?
They saw a little bird's-nest.

It was on the Emperor's tent.

The tent was so large.

The nest was so small.

The soldiers laughed when they saw it.

It was a pretty nest.

It was made of clay.

There were horsehairs in it, too.

Where did the swallow find the horse

hairs?

The Emperor liked the nest.

He liked the swallow.

This is what he said to the soldiers:

"Do not hurt the little bird.

Do not harm the nest.

The swallow has come to visit me.

She sat still on her nest.

The guns made a noise.

The cannon made a noise.

But the swallow was not afraid.

There were some eggs in the nest.
She kept them warm.

By and by the war was ended.

The soldiers went away.

They took their tents with them.

They did not take the Emperor's tent.

He said, "Leave it standing!"

Why did he say that?

The cannon balls had made holes in it.

The winds had torn it.

But the swallow did not care.

Soon there were some baby birds.
They sat on the top of the tent.
They sang happy little songs.

The mamma bird was happy, too.