Robin was busy building her nest when Squirrel wandered out on the limb where she was working. She was shocked when he came out where she was. She thought she had chosen a safe spot away from the beating path of such curious visitors. "What brings you out this way?" She asked him.

Squirrel was out looking for food but didn't want to tell her that.

"I saw you building your home and wondered if you could use some help," he sputtered. "I made my house from branches and leaves. It is very sturdy and strong. I would be glad to cut some branches for you with my sharp teeth".

Robin continued working on her nest making it nice and round. She told Squirrel that she was almost finished and wouldn't need any help at that time. But Squirrel's motive was not good. He had mischief on his mind.

Not wanting to be too friendly with Squirrel, Robin thanked him for his offer and asked him if he would kindly stay a good distance away from where she was working. Squirrel half-heartedly agreed and went to a branch high above the nest.

Robin flew to the wet area in Mr. Gilbert's flower garden in search of straw and mud for her nest. But danger was lurking there in the shadow of the flower bushes. Eyes fixed on her and crouching motionless among the flowers, was an old, scrawny stray. Her boney ribs poked out under her dingy coat. The old stray's heart pounded faster and faster at the thought that a fresh meal was now within her reach. When she felt that the time was right, she lunged at Robin with her claws extended. But Robin was quicker than the old, starving cat and escaped from her claws leaving her with a paw full of feathers. Back to the nest Robin flew with a mouth full of straw.

In the backyard, Mr. Gilbert was working in his garden. He had prepared the soil and was now planting the seed in each row. As he dug each hole in the soft soil, he carefully dropped in a few seeds and covered them with his foot. As he took a rest from his work, he imagined how the seed would be sprouting up into beautiful plants. He took a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the beads of sweat from his forehead, then continued on with his work.

When Robin finished building her nest, she fluffed up her feathers in it to see if it was secure enough for her chicks. It was soft, and deep, and just right.

"If it feels good to me", she squawked, "it will be just right for my chicks".

Day after day, Squirrel looked down into Robin's nest from a branch high above. Each time he checked, he saw that the nest was empty.

"I think Robin played a trick on me", he complained, fanning his bushy tail in the air.

Then one day Robin got the notion to sit in the nest. She cleaned her feathers, changed positions, and scanned around the nest. Then, the most exciting thing happened. She laid the most beautiful egg she could ever imagine. It was as blue as the eyes of a lovely princess and as smooth as a well-polished stone. Robin was proud of her nest, but she was prouder of the beautiful egg she had laid.

"Kek! Kek! Kek! Kek!" she called out to her friends to come and celebrate with her. The birds came and landed on the branches around her nest. They celebrated with her in a noisy cheer. The celebration got Squirrel's attention as he was relaxing on a branch above the nest. Now, he had seen everything.