asked the magpie , who was watching him from a bough . ` I 'm looking at this tree . It has just struck me what a good tree it would be to cut my new snow-shoes out of . ' But at this answer the magpie screeched loudly , and exclaimed : ` Oh , not this tree , dear brother , I implore you ! I have built my nest on it , and my young ones are not yet old enough to fly . ' ` It will not be easy to find another tree that would make such good snow-shoes , ' answered the fox , cocking his head on one side , and gazing at the tree thoughtfully ; ` but I do not like to be ill-natured , so if you will give me one of your young ones I will seek my snow-shoes elsewhere . ' Not knowing what to do the poor magpie had to agree , and flying back , with a heavy heart , he threw one of his young ones out of the nest . The fox seized it in his mouth and ran off in triumph , while the magpie , though deeply grieved for the loss of his little one , found some comfort in the thought that only a bird of extraordinary wisdom would have dreamed of saving the rest by the sacrifice of the one . But what do you think happened ? Why , a few days later , Michael the fox might have been seen sitting under the very same tree , and a dreadful pang shot through the heart of the magpie as he peeped at him from a hole in the nest . ` What are you looking at ? ' he asked in a trembling voice . ` At this tree . I was just thinking what good snowshoes it would make , ' answered the fox in an absent voice , as if he was not thinking of what he was saying . ` Oh , my brother , my dear little brother , do n't do that , ' cried the magpie , hopping about in his anguish . ` You know you promised only a few days ago that you would get your snow-shoes elsewhere . ' ` So I did ; but though I have searched through the whole forest , there is not a single tree that is as good as this . I am very sorry to put you out , but really it is not my fault . The only thing I can do for you is to offer to give up my snow-shoes altogether if you will throw me down one of your young ones in exchange . ' And the poor magpie , in spite of his wisdom , was obliged to throw another of his little ones out of the nest ; and this time he was not able to console himself with the thought that he had been much cleverer than other people .
He sat XXXXX the edge of his nest , his head drooping and his feathers all ruffled , looking the picture of misery .
So as for from if of on that though while