There was one little ditty which the children liked greatly, and which Granny said used to be sung to her by her nurse to put her to sleep.

The song began: "It's pretty to live in Ballinderry, Far prettier to live in Magherlin; Far prettier to live in Ram's Island And see the little boats sailing in!" It was altogether an evening which made the children feel completely absolved for any blunders they had committed, and they got up the next morning particularly good, not afraid of anything, and quite ready for a new adventure.

There was a snow world outside the windows, and this in itself was an excitement.
Blackbirds, thrushes, finches, tomtits, came round the doors and windows begging alms, not to mention crows and magpies, who fought with the little birds for the crumbs provided for all, and proved themselves intolerable bullies, much to Terry's disgust.
"The best plan will be," said Turly, "to throw big pieces, and then these monsters will fly away with them, and leave the little fellows to eat in peace." This was done, and the rooks in their sombre cloaks and hoods, and the magpies in their courtly black satin and white velvet, pounced on the morsels, and retired with them to the branches of the nearest trees.
"Oh, now," said Terry, "we can give the dear little song-birds their breakfast! Just see how they are running like little chickens to be fed!" However, only now was the fighting to begin.

The thrushes pecked the blackbirds, and the blackbirds flew at the thrushes, and both beat back the little redbreasts and tomtits.
"Rascals!" said Turly; "they are every bit as bad as the crows!" "Oh!" cried Terry, "to think they can sing so sweetly and behave so cruelly!" "I suppose it's only their way," said Turly.

"I think birds have to be cruel, or they couldn't live.