she cried . `` Nothing , but wait . I dare say , Mrs. Sooty-back is mistaken ; at any rate , we ca n't get away without leaving our children , for they ca n't fly yet . Let us wait , and see what happens . If the worst comes , we shall have done our duty , and will all die together . '' As no one could suggest any thing better , Mrs. Dart 's advice was taken , and they waited . On the afternoon of the same day , Dr. Banks , a sand-swallow , who lived in a subterranean village over by the great sand-bank , looked in to see Mrs. Wing , and cheered her by the following bit of news : `` The man was down at the poor-house to-day , and took away little Nan , the orphan baby . I saw him carry her to Will 's mother , and heard him ask her to take care of it for a time . He paid her well , and she seemed glad to do it ; for Will needs help , and now he can have it . An excellent arrangement , I think . Bless me , ma'am ! what 's the matter ? Your pulse is altogether too fast , and you look feverish . '' No wonder the doctor looked surprised ; for Mrs. Wing suddenly gave a skip , and flapped her wings , with a shrill chirp , exclaiming , as she looked about her triumphantly : `` Now , who was right ? Who has done good , not harm , by what you call ` gossip ' ? Who has been a martyr , and patiently borne all kinds of blame , injustice , and disrespect ? Yes , indeed ! the man saw the sense of my words ; he took my advice ; he will show his gratitude by some good turn yet ; and , if half a dozen poor souls are helped , it will be my doing , and mine alone . '' Here she had to stop for breath ; and her neighbors all looked at one another , feeling undecided whether to own they were wrong , or to put Mrs. Wing down . Every one twittered and chirped , and made a great noise ; but no one would give up , and all went to roost in a great state of uncertainty .
But , the next day , it became evident that Mrs. Wing was XXXXX ; for Major Bumble-bee came buzzing in to tell them that old Daddy Winter 's hut was empty , and his white head had been seen in the sunny porch of the great house .
Banks Dart Nan Sooty-back Will chirp neighbors poor-house right village