`` If you 'll give me time to get my breath , I 'll tell you all about it , '' retorted Tommy Tit . `` All right , only please hurry , '' replied Happy Jack , and tried to look patient even if he was n't . Tommy Tit smoothed out some rumpled feathers and was most provokingly slow about it . `` When I left here , '' he began at last , `` I flew straight up to Farmer Brown 's house , as I said I would . I flew all around it , but all I saw was that horrid Black Pussy on the back doorsteps , and she looked at me so hungrily that she made me dreadfully uncomfortable . I do n't see what Farmer Brown keeps her about for , anyway . '' `` Never mind her ; go on ! '' interrupted Happy Jack . `` Then I flew all around the barn , but I did n't see any one there but that ugly little upstart , Bully the English Sparrow , and he wanted to pick a fight with me right away . '' Tommy looked very indignant . `` Never mind him , go on ! '' cried Happy Jack impatiently . `` After that I flew back to the big maple tree close by the house , '' continued Tommy . `` You know Farmer Brown 's boy has kept a piece of suet tied in that tree all winter for me . I was hungry , and I thought I would get a bite to eat , but there was n't any suet there . That pig of a Sammy Jay had managed to get it untied and had carried it all away . Of course that made me angry , and twice as hungry as before . I was trying to make up my mind what to do next when I happened to look over on the window sill , and what do you think I saw there ? '' `` What ? '' demanded Happy Jack eagerly .
`` A lot XXXXX cracked hickory nuts ! ''
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