He looked straight at me and said a whole tree full of nice things." "What did he call you?
What did he say about the Brotherhood ?" asked all the others, crowding around Barney.
"He said that I swept the sky free of evil insects, that I was patriotic in coming back to my birthplace to nest, and that I worked to pay my rent and taxes, and--" "And what ?" cried the others in excitement.
"He called me 'Citizen Bird'! He said _all_ well-behaved birds, who have their own nests, and belong to the guilds of the Brotherhood, are American Citizens and should be protected!" "How badly the Cowbirds must feel!" said the chorus.
"Hip, hip, hurrah! for Citizen Bird and friendly House People!" drummed the Downy Woodpecker, beating away for dear life on a telegraph pole.
Then all the Swallows and Flycatchers began to dash about the air, whispering "Citizen Bird! Citizen Bird!" And the Bluebird flew down to the garden bushes to tell his winter companion, the Song Sparrow, all about it..