
Robin is a meticulously dressed little bird who lives in a pink‑washed cottage beside a gentle stream in the East Country. He prides himself on his appearance, cleverness and bravery, though his wife, Mrs. Robin, is more practical, busy preparing a nest for their soon‑to‑hatch chicks. Each morning she asks for news, and Robin, ever the inquisitive rambler, sets off on ever‑longer strolls, returning either exhausted or too late to share his tales.
On his wanderings he bumps into a curious kitten named Missy, whose friendly paw is rebuffed by the protective Mother Tabbykins, and later he explores a dusty windmill where a community of humble mice welcomes his grand stories. The windmill’s sudden spin sends him racing home, breathless, to report the excitement to a skeptical Mrs. Robin. These early adventures hint at a world full of bustling creatures and unexpected encounters, all seen through Robin’s boastful yet endearing eyes.
Language
en
Duration
~15 minutes (14K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Katherine Delany, Hazel Batey and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2012-01-06
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
1861–1936
Remembered as a lively English writer for children and general readers, she moved easily between poetry, retellings, music appreciation, and literary essays. Her work has survived in part through public-domain editions that still introduce new readers to her clear, approachable style.
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