Little Tommy Tit the Chickadee was so weak that he could hardly fly,
and he shook with chills. He made straight for the apple-tree where
Farmer Brown's boy always keeps a piece of suet tied to a branch for
Tommy and his friends. Drummer the Woodpecker was there before
him. Now it is one of the laws of politeness among the feathered folk
that when one is eating from a piece of suet a newcomer shall await
his turn.
"Dee, dee, dee!" said Tommy Tit faintly but cheerfully, for he couldn't
be other than cheery if he tried. "Dee, dee, dee! That looks good to me."
"It is good," mumbled Drummer, pecking away at the suet greedily."
Come on, Tommy Tit. Don't wait for me, for I won't be through for a
long time. I'm nearly starved, and I guess you must be."
"I am," confessed Tommy, as he flew over beside Drummer. "Thank you
ever so much for not making me wait."
"Don't mention it," replied Drummer, with his mouth full. "This is no
time for politeness. Here comes Yank Yank the Nuthatch. I guess there
is room for him too."
Yank Yank was promptly invited to join them and did so after
apologizing for seeming so greedy.
"If I couldn't get my stomach full before night, I certainly should
freeze to death before morning," said he. "What a blessing it is to
have all this good food waiting for us. If I had to hunt for my usual
food on the trees, I certainly should have to give up and die.
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