"Tweet,tweet,"sheheardatthismomentaboveherhead. itwastheswallowjustpassing. AssoonasitsawThumbelisa,itwasdelighted; shetoldithowunwillingshewastohavetheuglymoleforahusband,andthatshewastolivedeepdownundergroundwherethesunnevershone. Shecouldnothelpcryingaboutit. "Thecoldwinteriscoming,"saidtheswallow,"andIamgoingtoflyawaytowarmcountries. Tieyourselfonwithyoursash; thenwewillflyawayfromtheuglymoleandhisdarkcavern, farawayoverthemountainstothosewarmcountrieswherethesunshineswithgreatersplendourthanhere, whereitisalwayssummerandthereareheapsofflowers. Doflywithme,yousweetlittleThumbelisa,whosavedmylifewhenIlayfrozeninthedarkearthypassage." "Yes,Iwillgowithyou,"saidThumbelisa,seatingherselfonthebird'sback,withherfeetonitsoutspreadwing. Shetiedherbandtightlytooneofthestrongestfeathers,andthentheswallowflewaway, highupintheairaboveforestsandlakes, highupabovethebiggestmountainswherethesnownevermelts; andThumbelisashiveredinthecoldair,butthenshecreptunderthebird'swarmfeathers, andonlystuckoutherlittleheadtolookatthebeautifulsightsbeneathher. Thenatlasttheyreachedthewarmcountries. Thesunshonewithawarmerglowthanhere; theskywastwiceashigh,andthemostbeautifulgreenandbluegrapesgrewinclustersonthebanksandhedgerows. Orangesandlemonshunginthewoods,whichwerefragrantwithmyrtlesandsweetherbs, andbeautifulchildrenranabouttheroadsplayingwiththelargegorgeouslycolouredbutterflies. Buttheswallowflewonandon,andthecountrygrewmoreandmorebeautiful. Undermagnificentgreentreesontheshoresoftheblueseastoodadazzlingwhitemarblepalaceofancientdate; vineswreathedthemselvesroundthestatelypillars. Attheheadofthese,therewerecountlessnests,andtheswallowwhocarriedThumbelisalivedinoneofthem. "Hereismyhouse,"saidtheswallow; "butifyouwillchooseoneofthegorgeousflowersgrowingdownthere,Iwillplaceyouinit,andyouwillliveashappilyasyoucanwish." "Thatwouldbedelightful,"shesaid,andclappedherlittlehands. 
