Hehadjustmadealongtunnelthroughthegroundfromhishousetotheirs,andhegavethefield-mouseandThumbelisaleavetowalkinitwhenevertheyliked. Hetoldthemnottobeafraidofthedeadbirdwhichwaslyinginthepassage. Itwasawholebirdwithfeathersandbeakwhichhadprobablydiedquiterecentlyatthebeginningofthewinter, andwasnowentombedjustwherehehadmadehistunnel. Themoletookapieceoftinder-woodinhismouth,forthatshineslikefireinthedark,andwalkedinfrontofthemtolighttheminthelongdarkpassage; whentheycametotheplacewherethedeadbirdlay, themolethrusthisbroadnoseuptotheroofandpushedtheearthup,soastomakeabigholethroughwhichthedaylightshone. Inthemiddleofthefloorlayadeadswallow,withitsprettywingscloselypressedtoitssides,andthelegsandheaddrawninunderthefeathers; nodoubtthepoorbirdhaddiedofcold. Thumbelisawassosorryforit; shelovedallthelittlebirds,fortheyhadtwitteredandsungsosweetlytoherduringthewholesummer; butthemolekickeditwithhisshortlegsandsaid, "Nowitwillpipenomore!Itmustbeamiserablefatetobebornalittlebird! Thankheaven!nochildofminecanbeabird; abirdlikethathasnothingbutitstwitteranddiesofhungerinthewinter." "Yes,asensibleman,youmaywellsaythat,"saidthefield-mouse. "Whathasabirdforallitstwitteringwhenthecoldweathercomes?Ithastohungerandfreeze,butthenitmustcutadash." Thumbelisadidnotsayanything,butwhentheothersturnedtheirbackstothebird, shestoopeddownandstrokedasidethefeatherswhichlayoveritshead,andkisseditsclosedeyes. "Perhapsitwasthisverybirdwhichsangsosweetlytomeinthesummer,"shethought; "whatpleasureitgaveme,thedearprettybird." Themolenowcloseduptheholewhichletinthedaylightandconductedtheladiestotheirhome. Thumbelisacouldnotsleepatallinthenight,soshehadgotupoutofherbedandplaitedalargehandsomematofhay, andthenshecarrieditdownandspreaditalloverthedeadbird, andlaidsomesoftcottonwoolwhichshehadfoundinthefield-mouse'sroomcloserounditssides,sothatitmighthaveawarmbedonthecoldground. "Goodbye,yousweetlittlebird,"saidshe, "goodbye,andthankyouforyoursweetsongthroughthesummer,whenallthetreesweregreenandthesunshonewarmlyuponus." Thenshelaidherheadcloseuptothebird'sbreast,butwasquitestartledatasound,asifsomethingwasthumpinginsideit. Itwasnotdeadbutlayinaswoon,andnowthatithadbeenwarmeditbegantorevive. 
