If out of sight, then out of mind. This is a
saying which you often hear. It may be true
sometimes, but it is very far from true at other times.
Take the case of Blacky. He had had only a glance
into that nest just inside the door of Farmer Brown’s
henhouse, but that glance had been enough to show
him two eggs there. Then, as he flew away toward
the Green Forest, those eggs were out of sight, of
course. But do you think they were out of mind?
Not much! No, indeed! In fact, those
eggs were very much in Blacky’s mind. He
couldn’t think of anything else. He flew
straight to a certain tall pine-tree in a lonely part
of the Green Forest. Whenever Blacky wants to
think or to plan mischief, he seeks that particular
tree, and in the shelter of its broad branches he
keeps out of sight of curious eyes, and there he sits
as still as still can be.
“I want one of those eggs,” muttered Blacky,
as he settled himself in comfort on a certain particular
spot on a certain particular branch of that tall pine-tree.
Indeed, that particular branch might well be called
the “mischief branch,” for on it Blacky
has thought out and planned most of the mischief he
is so famous for. “Yes, sir,” he
continued, “I want one of those eggs, and what
is more, I am going to have one.”
He half closed his eyes and tipped his head back and
swallowed a couple of times, as if he already tasted
one of those eggs.
“There is more in one of those eggs than in
a whole nestful of Welcome Robin’s eggs.
It is a very long time since I have been lucky enough
to taste a hen’s egg, and now is my chance.
I don’t like having to go inside that henhouse,
even though it is barely inside the door. I’m
suspicious of doors. They have a way of closing
most unexpectedly.
I might see if I cannot get Unc’ Billy Possum
to bring one of those eggs out for me. But that
plan won’t do, come to think of it, because
I can’t trust Unc’ Billy. The old
sinner is too fond of eggs himself. I would
be willing to divide with him, but he would be sure
to eat his first, and I fear that it would taste so
good that he would eat the other. No.
I’ve got to get one of those eggs myself.
It is the only way I can be sure of it.
“The thing to do is to make sure that Farmer
Brown’s boy and Farmer Brown himself are nowhere
about. They ought to be down in the cornfield
pretty soon. With them down there, I have only
to watch my chance and slip in. It won’t
take but a second. Just a little courage, Blacky,
just a little courage! Nothing in this world
worth having is gained without some risk. The
thing to do is to make sure that the risk is as small
as possible.”
Blacky shook out his feathers and then flew out of
the tall pine-tree as silently as he had flown into
it. He headed straight toward Farmer Brown’s
cornfield. When he was near enough to see all
over the field, he dropped down to the top of a fence
post, and there he waited. he didn’t have long
to wait. In fact, he had been there but a few
minutes
