A Bird's Nest

An old man, who had charge of field,
With pride he saw two birds did build
A broad, capacious, warm nest ;
Soon full of young with speckled breast.

And when the old man there did pass,
They soon ran merry 'mong the grass ;
But of the youth they were so shy,
They made strong efforts for to fly.

Youths tried with old man to prevail,
To let them blaze away at quail;
But, though they longed for a fat pot,
At them they never got a shot.

No more the old man doth them shield,
For they have flown to broader field ;
Long may they spread their wings and tail,
And may no foe them 'ere assail.