ROBIN READBREAST'S CHRISTMAS SONG - A Scotch Folk Tale Retold

There was once an old gray Cat, who went for a walk one Christmas morning to see what she could see. As she was walking by a small lake, she saw a Robin hopping about on a branch.

"Good morning, Robin Redbreast," she said, "Where are you going on this cold and frosty morning?"

"I'm going to the King," answered the Robin, "to sing him a Christmas Song."

"Oh, but wait before you go," said the Cat. "Hop down to me a minute and I'll show you the beautiful white ring around my neck."

But Robin looked down on Cat and saw an evil look in his eye.

"Ha! ha! gray Cat." He said, "You can't trick me. I saw you show your white ring to the little gray mouse and you ate him! I'm not coming down to you! I'm flying straight on to the King!

So he spread his wings and flew away. He flew, and he flew, and he flew, till he came to a fence. There sat a greedy old Hawk who was looking about for his breakfast.

"Good morning, Robin Redbreast," cried the greedy old Hawk, "where are you going on this cold and frosty morning?"

"I'm going to the King," answered the wee Robin, "to sing him a Christmas Song."

"Oh, but wait before you go," said the greedy old Hawk, come close and see my magic green feather.

But the wee Robin did not like the look in the eye of the greedy old Hawk.

Ha! ha! old Hawk," he said, "I saw you peck at the tiny birds, and you'll not peck at me. I'm going straight on to the King!"

So he spread his wings and flew away. He flew, and he flew, and he flew, till he came to a hillside where he saw a sly old fox looking out of his hole.

"Good morning, Robin Redbreast," said the sly old Fox. "Where are you going on this cold and frosty morning?"

"I'm going to the King," answered the wee Robin, "to sing him a Christmas Song."

"Oh, but wait before you go, said the sly old Fox, "let me show you the black spot I have on the end of my tail."

Ha! ha! sly Fox," said the Robin, "I saw chase a small lamb, I'm not interested in the spot on you tail. I'm going straight on to the King."

So the Robin Flew away once more, and never rested till he came to a rosy-cheeked boy, who sat on a log and eating a big piece of bread and butter. The tired Robin sat on a high branch and watched boy.

"Good morning, Robin Redbreast," said the boy. "Where are you going on this cold and frosty morning?"

"I'm going to sing a Christmas Song to the King," answered the Robin.

"Come a bit nearer," said the boy, "and I'll give you some crumbs from my bread."

"No way rosy-cheeked boy," I saw you catch a goldfinch with your crumbs. I am not interested in your crumbs. I'm flying straight on to the King."

So, no matter who begged him to stop and wait the Robin flew straight on to the King. And he lit on the window-sill of the palace.

There he sat and sang the sweetest Christmas song he knew. He was so happy because it was Christmas Time that he wanted the whole wide world to be as happy as he. And he sang, and he sang, and he sang.

The King and Queen sat at the window, and they were so pleased with his joyful song that they asked each other what they could do to pay him for his loving thought in coming so far to sing to them.

"I know what we can do," said the Queen, "we can find him a friend," Then the King clapped his hands and asked his servants to find a friend for Robin Redbreast. One servant knew a bird named Jenny Wren who lived in the kitchen courtyard.

"Bring her to me," said the King. Jenny Wren and Robin Redbreast, when introduced, liked each other very much. They sat side by side on the window-sill, and they sang, and they sang. And they sang on that merry Christmas morning and many Christmas mornings there after.