“Way back in the days when the world was young, and the great-great-ever-so-great-grandfathers of all the little people of the Green Meadows and the Green Forest of today were being started out in life by Old Mother Nature, they had everything to learn.  The Great World was a new place, and they were new in it.  No one knew exactly his place or what was expected of him, and Old Mother Nature was too busy to be bothered with questions.  She expected each one to work out for himself a way in which to make himself useful, or at least to take care of himself, without bothering her.  If he couldn’t do that, she didn’t want him around at all, and the sooner something happened to him the better.  So the Great World began to be peopled with birds and animals.

“It didn’t take them long to learn that it wouldn’t be possible for all to live if they all ate the same kind of food.  So some learned to eat one thing and some another, and all went happily until there came a time when all food was scarce, and more stomachs were empty than full.  You’ve heard about that hard time and sad time?”

Peter nodded, and Jerry took a drink of water and then went on with his tale.

“Of course, that was really a very dreadful time, for it was then that the strong began to hunt the weak, and fear was born into the world.  And yet I guess it wasn’t wholly bad.  Nothing is, so far as I can find out.  Anyway, because of that hard time, everybody became a little smarter than before.  You know an empty stomach sharpens wit, and fear puts a fine edge on it.  Now Mr. Osprey, who was one of the biggest of the cousins of old King Eagle, couldn’t get over a feeling of meanness whenever he hunted those smaller than himself.  One day he caught little Mr. Sparrow when little Mr. Sparrow was so busy that he forgot to watch out.

“‘I’m powerful sorry, Mr. Sparrow,’ apologized Mr. Osprey, ’but there’s an emptiness just about your size in my stomach, and it won’t give me any peace of mind until it’s filled.  I hate to make a neighbor uncomfortable, and I’ll be just as quick and accommodating about this little matter as I can.  If you’ll just shut your eyes, you won’t see anything unpleasant, and I won’t be a minute in getting that peace of mind I’ve been without so long.  I just must have it, or I wouldn’t bother you at all.  I hope you won’t hold it against me, Mr. Sparrow.’

“Mr. Osprey was so nice and polite about it that little Mr. Sparrow perked up a little and started his wits working.  He tried to be just as nice and polite as Mr. Osprey.  ‘I know just how you feel, Mr. Osprey,’ said he, in a trembling voice, ’and during these hard times I’ve had that same ailment of the mind because of lonesomeness of the stomach, which is troubling you.  So long as that emptiness is filled, I don’t suppose it matters to you if I shouldn’t happen to fill it.’

“‘Not at all,’ replied Mr. Osprey.

“‘Mr. Osprey,’ said little Mr. Sparrow very earnestly, ’if I were in your place, I never would go hungry.  No, Sir, I never would go hungry.  And I certainly never, never would trouble any of my neighbors who wear feathers.  I certainly would feel most happy if Old Mother Nature had given me what she has given you.  Indeed I would.’