noon
He tried to persuade Jack not to rob any more birds ' nests ; but Jack only laughed at him , and told him to run home to his sister , like a good little boy . Frank was the oldest , and he felt rather vexed at the sneering way in which Jack spoke ; but he made no angry answer . At school time , Frank and Fanny went to school again ; but Jack played truant , as he had done in the morning , and went down in the meadows , with the boys , whom he had told Frank he was going with . Miss Norton asked Frank , if he knew what had kept Jack away from school all day , and he repeated to her , as nearly as he could , the conversation which had taken place between them that noon . The next morning , when Jack came into school rather late , Miss Norton called him up to her , and told him to read out loud , this piece , from the Village Reader . `` HAVE YOU SEEN MY DARLING NESTLINGS ? '' A Mother robin cried : `` I can not , can not find them , Though I 've sought them far and wide `` I left them well this morning , When I went to seek their food ; But I found upon returning , I 'd a nest , without a brood .