Chapter II: Part 2

"I heard a story the other day," said daddy, "a quite true story. Mr. Nightingale had built too large a nest.

"After a while he thought of a visitor he would like to have all the time, and off he started on his travels.

"As he went along, flying as fast as he could, he kept thinking to himself how very lonely he had been of late.

"At last he reached the spot he had chosen for resting. It was in a blackbird's bay. There were many low bushes and shrubs and berry trees in this bay, and in the marshy water were quantities of pond-lilies.

"Soon a very fine bird--black as black could be, and very shiny, just as if he'd polished his wings with shoe-blacking--perched on a bush beside the one where Mr. Nightingale was resting.

"'Did you come to hear us sing or talk or scream?' asked the blackbird.

"Mr. Nightingale sang a little opening song and then began to talk to the blackbird.

"'Mr. Blackbird,' he said, 'you're a handsome fellow, and you're very smart. I've heard a secret about your family. Many have done what you will do. You must try. That's all.' And again Mr. Nightingale sang a song.

"'What do you mean, Mr. Nightingale? Your song is lovely, but your talk is very, very queer.' And Mr. Blackbird shook his head sadly.

"'Well, I mean you to come to my nest. It's too big for me. It's fitted out perfectly--all the latest improvements--fresh water to drink supplied by my water man, Mr. Showers, and new worms each day my children bring to my nest in plenty of time for breakfast--and our rooms are both shady and sunny. In fact, it's a very superior home. But in the house nearby lives a dear old lady and I want her to be given a treat. She has gone away on a visit and when she comes back I want you to be singing duets with me.'

"'What?' shouted the blackbird. 'I'm to sing with you?'

"'Most certainly. Many blackbirds have copied our voices so that you wouldn't be able to tell us apart if you couldn't see us. The nice old lady will hear our voices and think that there are two of me! When she sees that one is you, she'll think you're a smart bird--that's what she'll think. Besides, I want a companion and I like you.'

"'Well, I never heard so many reasons in all my life,' said the blackbird. 'But I'll go just as soon as I get my suitcase packed. There are several little delicacies from the bay I'd like to bring along.' And Mr. Blackbird stopped to put some red berries and other goodies in his straw bag. Then off they went, and Mr. Blackbird really did learn to sing just like Mr. Nightingale."

MR. PLAIN SPARROW CALLS ON DUCKS

"It was such a hot day yesterday," said daddy, "that Mr. Plain Sparrow simply could not get cool. You see he never goes away in the winter and so he gets used to really cold weather. On a day as hot as it was yesterday he simply doesn't know what to do with himself. He called himself Mr. Plain Sparrow because that was exactly what he was. He was just a plain, ordinary sparrow, and he thought it such a wise thing to call himself that--and not put on any silly frills. He prided himself on being sensible.

"'If there's anything in this world I hate,' he said, 'it's pretending to be what a creature is not.' And so he called himself by the name of Mr. Plain Sparrow, and his wife was Mrs. Plain Sparrow, and his children were the Plain Sparrow Children.

"'I think,' he said, 'that I will take a walk or a fly to the duck pond in the park nearby. Yes, it seems to me that's an excellent scheme. I would like to see those ducks, for they're right smart creatures, and I like to hear their funny quack-quack talk.'

"'What are you up to, ducks?' he called, as he flew over the pond, and then perched on a small bush that was at one side.

"'We're well,' said the ducks. 'We're enjoying a cooling drink between swims. Would you like to join us? It's just tea time.'

"'Tea time, eh?' said Mr. Plain Sparrow. 'And would you give a fellow a good, fat worm in place of bread and butter and cake?'

"'Quack-quack! ha, ha!' laughed the ducks. 'We don't like bread and butter and cake. But we can't get the worm for you just now, as we're not very good at digging on such a hot day!'

"'Well, then, how about my digging for a couple of them, and then joining all you nice ducks when you're ready to have your tea?'

"'Splendid idea,' quacked the ducks. And off went Mr. Plain Sparrow to a soft place in the earth where he thought there would be some good worms.

"Pretty soon he came back with some fine ones, and he sat on his perch and ate them, while the ducks nibbled at their food, and had drinks of pond water, which they called tea. Mr. Plain Sparrow flew down and took sips of water by the side of the pond, and in one very shallow place he had some nice showerbaths while the ducks were having swims. And before he left he told the ducks what a good time he had had, and how nice and cool he felt.

"'Well, you're so friendly we're glad you came,' quacked the ducks once again."

FARMER'S SCARECROW PROTECTS A CORN-FIELD

"To-night," said daddy, "we are going to have the story of the meeting of the brownies, crows, and old Mr. Scarecrow. The crows had been giving feasts in a corn-field almost every morning bright and early before any of the big people who lived in the nearby farm-house were up. Such feasts as they did have! And one day they asked the brownies if they wouldn't come to their next one.

"'Caw-caw,' said the crows together.

"'Where are we going?' asked one of the brownies teasingly, for they had been going around and around in circles and hadn't reached any place.

"'I don't quite know,' said Black Crown Crow, 'it's a question which is very hard to decide.'

"'But we thought you had chosen a special spot,' said one of the brownies.

"Black Crown Crow looked very sad, and his black wings seemed to droop. 'It's that guest I never asked. He's causing all the trouble. How very rude it is of folks to come to a feast who aren't invited, and to arrive before us, too. It's very e-x-a-s-p-e-r-a-t-i-n-g!'

"'Who is he?' shouted the brownies, for every little while Black Crown Crow had gone ahead and then had come back. In these little trips he had seen right in the center of the corn-field a man--a real man, he thought, with a hat and a coat and trousers and boots--and carrying something which he couldn't quite make out. It was either a great huge stick--or worse still--it was a gun. He shivered whenever he thought of that awful word gun.

"'Caw-caw,' again shrieked Black Crown Crow, 'it's a man and he has a gun--I'm sure it's a gun. Now the rudeness of him! As if we wanted a man and a gun at our corn feast!'

"'Oh, it was to have been a corn feast, and now the man has stopped it,' laughed one of the brownies. 'Well, such a joke! But to show you how nice we'll be when we're here ready for a party which can't take place, we'll give a nice party ourselves.'

"And the brownies scampered about a little grove near the corn-field, and there they made a bonfire over which they cooked some corn-meal which they had carried with them in their bags. They knew all along, ever since they'd started, where the crows wanted them to go for the feast, and they also knew that the farmer had made that scarecrow in his corn-field to frighten off Black Crown Crow and his followers.

"The brownies made a fine feast, but how they did chuckle among themselves that the pole dressed up as a man had succeeded in saving the corn for the people of the farm-house."

THE BRAVE BROWN SPARROWS IN WINTER

"You know," said daddy, "I saw such a strange thing to-day in the city."

"Tell us about it," said Jack.

"What was it?" asked Evelyn, who was always interested in whatever daddy had to say.

"Well," continued daddy, "in a tree in the park lots and lots of little sparrows were roosting. It was, of course, a perfectly bare tree without a leaf on it, and they were huddled together, keeping each other warm.

"I watched them for quite a time. There was one sparrow who looked the leader. He did most of the chirping and was apparently telling all the others what they must do and giving all sorts of directions. He chirped almost constantly for ten minutes, and then he flew down from the tree and hopped along the ground. He picked up crumb after crumb, and then when he had as many as he could carry in his beak he flew up in the tree again and left them on a branch where there was a kind of hole in which to put them. He was evidently showing all the other birds just what to do, for in a minute or two any number of them flew down to the ground and began to pick up crumbs.

"It was wonderful to see how many they could find, for I myself could hardly see any, and all the time he kept chirping to the others and telling them what to do.

"This kept up for some time, for the birds would fly back and forth, just picking up goodies and then putting them up in the tree. Meantime a lot of other birds who had stayed up in the tree were fixing them on the branch and dividing them all evenly."

"Didn't they eat any of them?" asked Evelyn.

"Yes. After quite awhile they all flew back to the tree again, and once more they huddled together and had the most marvelous meal. You see, it was their dinner time, and they all had it together at the same time to make it more sociable. From all the cries of joy and the noise I fancy they were having a pretty good time of it and enjoying themselves immensely. In fact, I think they almost forgot how cold it was."

"I think it's wonderful," said Evelyn, "how well the birds can look after themselves, for it must be pretty hard sometimes, especially in the winter."

"Yes," said daddy, "it is, but these birds seemed so happy together and to be having such a good time. After dinner was over they all chased each other from one tree to another in the park and played tag and had a beautiful time. So I think really birds and animals are smart and brave to be able to look after themselves and their little ones so well."

WHAT THE RAINBOW THINKS OF THE WORLD

"The fairies were giving a luncheon party for the birds, and they wanted to have a great, big surprise," said daddy. "The birds which were invited were the robins, the orioles, the bluejays, the humming-birds.

"'Now, birdies,' said the fairy queen, 'I'm going to ask the king of the clouds to this luncheon, so we'll have plenty of delicious rain-water to drink.'

"Of course, the fairy queen had told the king of the clouds that she didn't want him to send his army of raindrops to the earth--for an army would make it pour too hard and they couldn't have any fun at the luncheon. She just wanted some of the big, big drops to come down and fill the little stones she had at the places for the birds so that they could have delicious water at her party--but she didn't want to make it so wet they'd get their beautiful feathers drenched--just a nice little shower was what she wanted.

"The king of the clouds had promised, and he had told the raindrops just what to do and just how many could go down on the earth.

"The birds enjoyed the delicious luncheon the fairies gave them, and, of course, they loved their fresh drinks of water.

"'Now for our surprise,' shouted the fairies, after the luncheon was over. 'We're to have two famous guests to-day. This is to be a really real day! And we're to have them both at the same time--and we're to have another treat, too. Guess, birds, what are we going to have? Guess, guess, guess!' For the fairies were so excited they kept repeating themselves over and over again.

"But before the birds had time to do more than twitter and chirp among themselves as to what the great surprise was going to be, who should appear, right along with the raindrops, but Mr. Sun, and then over a hill came the most beautiful rainbow with all the glorious colors the fairies admire so much.

"And then you should have heard the singing of the birds. Every one of them had a glorious voice, and the chorus was the loveliest the fairies had ever heard. As for Mr. Sun, he beamed and shone with might and main.

"'Well, hello, raindrops,' he said. 'I'm mighty glad to see you. It's not often we meet, but the fairy queen can make all of us friendly--even the sun and the rain.'

"And the raindrops came on down to the earth very gently, but without stopping, while back of it all the rainbow leaned down over the hill and whispered:

"'Isn't this a wonderful world? There are fairies, birds, the sun, fresh water to drink. I'm so glad I am here.'"

EAGLES AND RAVENS

"Some white-tailed eagles were boasting one day of their bravery," commenced daddy. "They were also saying how fine they were in every way and that their very name meant something splendid and free and strong.

"As a matter of fact, though the white-tailed eagles won't admit it, they are less brave than any of the eagle families.

"The ravens are not kindly at all and they love to fight. They had often thought it would be great sport to have those 'silly white-tailed eagles,' as they called them, admit that they were not brave and have their leader beg for mercy from General Raven.

"And, as you can imagine, when Brother Black Raven heard the eagles boasting he knew it was high time to begin and frighten them.

"So he called all the ravens together. Some of them were having their naps, but as soon as Brother Black Raven called them, up they got in a great hurry, spread their wings and drilled a little bit just like soldiers. Only instead of marching they flew.

"As General Raven came near the nest of the white-tailed eagles, he said in a very queer, croaking sort of voice:

"'Good-morning!' That was rather mean of him to say, for, of course, he didn't really wish them a 'Good-morning.'

"'Do you want to fight?' asked General Raven.

"Still not a sound from the eagles. There was a slight fluster and trembling, which the ravens could hear and which made them grin with delight, but the eagles never said a word. They didn't even look at the ravens! For they were so frightened they didn't dare look at them, and they kept thinking, 'Oh, won't those awful ravens and their ugly old general go away?' The eagles, of course, thought the ravens were very ugly because they were so afraid of them.

"'For the last time, do you want to fight us, eh?' asked General Raven. And still the eagles said not a word--nor made a sound. 'Well, let me say then for all of us,' said General Raven, 'that we think you're very cowardly, and we heard you talking before we came of your bravery. We wouldn't fight you because you're afraid of us, but you'll have to admit it after this,' and with a deep chuckle off went General Raven and his followers.

"The eagles did not go on boasting, but they were very contented that the ravens had gone away!"

THE EAGLES WHO WERE ALWAYS STILL

"In the house where Kenneth lived there was a chair which had always fascinated him. It was a very, very old chair, and Kenneth's mother and daddy were very proud of it," said daddy to Jack and Evelyn. "Kenneth's daddy had bought it at a sale of old and curious things. It was a Roman chair, and on either side were two heads of eagles. These four heads in all always made Kenneth wonder, for they looked so very life-like. He used to imagine that even little wooden eagles must get very tired of always being just the same.

"Really it often made Kenneth quite sad to watch them. One afternoon Kenneth went to a party. A little school chum of his had given it. It had been a very nice party. But, oh, he did feel so tired, for they had played blind man's buff, bull in the ring, squat tag, and other games.

"When Kenneth came home from the party it was not quite his bedtime, but secretly in his heart he was hoping it would come soon, for he had made up his mind that he wasn't going to bed until his bedtime.

"He got a book from the library shelf. It was full of pictures of sailors and pirates and ships, because if anything would keep him awake that would. He sat down with it on the Roman chair.

"Strangely enough, though, after a moment or two, he didn't seem to see pirates, and the sea began to look very much more like the surface of a chair. Soon the pirates disappeared entirely, and the four eagles of the Roman chair were looking at him steadily.

"'You're terribly tired, aren't you?' said the first eagle.

"'Yes; I'm a little tired,' Kenneth admitted.

"'Well, you're not as tired as we are,' said the second eagle.

"'No, indeed!' said the third eagle. 'You're only tired because you've played so many games. We're tired because we're always still.'

"Kenneth listened eagerly, because he'd so often thought just what he was hearing. 'Yes,' said Kenneth very sympathetically; 'I should think you would be very dull. I've often thought that. Have you been there a long time?'

"'Oh, ages and ages!' replied the fourth eagle, who up to this time hadn't spoken. 'We were very old before your daddy got us. We've been on this chair so long. We can't remember how long. And what makes us feel so sad is that we are called eagles and should fly and yet are forever glued to this chair.'

"'Kenneth, Kenneth,' cried Kenneth's mother, 'it's long past bedtime!'

"'Oh, I am not so tired as the eagles are!' said Kenneth. And Kenneth's mother wondered if he was talking in his sleep."

THE BOBOLINKS HAVE A TEA PARTY

"The other day," commenced daddy, "the bobolinks had an afternoon tea.

"The tea party was given for the meadow larks. The bobolinks are great friends of the meadow larks and they wanted to be the first this season to entertain them. Besides, most of the bobolinks had new summer homes and their colony was near a beautiful stream.

"You know the bobolinks always build their homes in the meadows--but they build very near a stream and their homes are always deep down in the long grass.

"They had all come to live in Waving Grassland for the summer--that is, all the bobolinks who always moved about together in the summer and winter--and many of their friends, the meadow larks, were on hand to greet them. A number of others were going to arrive in a few days--before the tea party.

"Now Waving Grassland was very beautiful country. The meadows were very large and the grass was so beautiful and so long that it always waved in the soft breezes, so that the bobolinks named their new summer place Waving Grassland.

"And so the bobolinks made all their preparations for the tea party. The guests arrived dressed up in their best new summer plumage. The meadow larks came first, as they were the guests of honor.

"The red-breasted grosbeak family were all there looking too lovely for words. And the bluejays, downy woodpeckers, the orioles, the thrush family, the chipping sparrows, the robins, the indigo birds--and even the shy vireos ventured forth. Of course, usually they hate parties, but they loved the stream nearby and the beautiful country the bobolinks were living in, and they thought at least once a year they ought to be a little bit sociable and friendly with their neighbors.

"After they had all chatted together--to us it would have sounded more like chirping--the bobolinks began to serve tea.

"They had spring water for their tea--the water from the cool stream which had a deep spring within it. And this tea they served in little moss-covered stones. That gave it the most delicious flavor, and all the birds asked the bobolinks where they had found such good tea. You know in birdland they don't ask each other where anything is bought, but where it is found! And the bobolinks told their secret.

"But as they were drinking cup after cup--or stoneful after stoneful--of tea, who should arrive but all the fairies!

"The birds greeted the fairies with their best songs--or their way of saying 'We're so glad to see you'--and the bobolinks trilled with joy because they had arranged this lovely surprise for their guests."

A HAPPY DAY IN BIRDLAND

"The birds," said daddy, "found a new room for breakfast. It was in a row of bushes--and the bushes were berry bushes.

"One day as they were having the best sort of a time eating, who should look down at them but the king of the clouds. He looked quite dark and solemn.

"'Te-wit,' said one little bird, and another said,

"'Tr-r-r-i-l-l.'

"'How about some water to drink?' asked the king of the clouds. 'Some nice, fresh water?'

"The birds began chirping for all they were worth. The grown-ups said, 'Listen to the noise the birds are making. It must be going to rain--they're crying for water.'

"And sure enough, they were begging the king of the clouds to send some of his army of raindrops down to the earth.

"'Please, please, please, Cloud King, send us rain-water,' chirped the birds.

"'All right,' roared the cloud king. 'I will.'

"'But we don't want thunder,' said the birds. 'We want to stay out, and we're afraid of thunder. Won't you send us a good old-fashioned shower?'

"And the cloud king called, 'Raindrops, raindrops, come and patter down to the earth. But gently, little raindrops. And when you see the beak of a little bird open, one small raindrop must walk inside.'

"Down came the raindrops very softly and gently to the earth.

"'Children,' called Mother Robin, 'come for your baths in these hollow stones. They're filled with water.'

"All around the mother birds were calling the little ones to their baths.

"'Oh,' said one little robin as he ducked his head into the water, and then shook all over and spattered it about, 'how nice a bath does feel.'

"The cloud king looked so bright and happy, that the mother birds were afraid it would stop raining. 'Don't stop, Cloud King,' they chirped.

"'I won't,' said the cloud king. And the birds twittered and sang and wet their little throats with the delicious rain-water.

"After the cloud king and his army of raindrops had been working for quite a long time, one of the birds noticed that the new breakfast room in the berry bushes was getting very wet.

"'It will spoil our berries for breakfast, I'm afraid,' he said.

"But the berries whispered back,

"'No; we like the rain too. We needed some water to drink. And more of us will come to-morrow. Your breakfast will be better than ever.'

"So all day long the rain kept up gently. When it was almost bedtime who should appear but old Mr. Sun.

"'Shall I dry your little feathers?' he said to the birds.

"And every little bird in birdland was warm and dry and happy when he tucked his head under his wing that night."

THE ROBINS' SPRING CONCERT

"The robins gave their spring concert the other morning for the fairies," said daddy. "They give one every year just after most of their family have arrived for the summer. It is one of the biggest events of the spring in fairyland, and they are so excited about it for days ahead that they can talk about nothing else. They've practised so hard and so long lately that the day has been quite far gone many a time, when some little robin has been trying over and over again some important trill which he was going to sing alone.

"But the concert was given just at dawn. Mr. Sun came out for it, looking as fine as any king with a very dazzling golden crown on his head. Then the dew-drops came and had reserved seats on the little blades of grass. Some of the early butterflies were invited, and the little spring garden flowers opened their sleepy eyes and waved about, keeping time with the music.

"First of all was the grand opening chorus. Mr. Robin Redbreast had a little stick with which he beat time, and all the robins sang a fine song which he had made up himself.

"Then came the solos. Miss Robin Redbreast sang a beautiful song all by herself.

"Then two little brother robins sang a song together--they called it a 'duet,' which was very funny. They acted as they sang, and made all the fairies and the other guests at the concert laugh hard.

"But best of all was the band. It was a new band the robins had just started, and they were very proud of it. It was a great surprise to the fairies, for they didn't know the robins had a band. As you can guess, the robins had worked hard for a big surprise for the fairies. Ten little robins played the drums, which were tiny twigs from the apple tree. There were little spring leaves through which some of the others whistled tunes, and the rest played on horn-shaped flowers.

"After the concert was finished and the fairies had clapped and clapped and waved their wands with delight, and the little robins had bowed and bowed--and fallen down, sometimes making too low bows--they all had breakfast. Such a breakfast! The most luscious of worms were given the little robins and a special dish was made for the fairies of spring porridge, which Grandmother Robin had made, and which the fairies called 'Delicious.'"

THE CROWS AT THE FAIRIES' BALL

"The fairies had one of their fine balls just two evenings ago," said daddy.

"Among their guests were the brownies, elves, gnomes, many of the birds, butterflies, humming-birds, red lizards, grasshoppers, and crickets. The crickets had arranged to sing for the dancing and the humming-birds said they would hum the tunes all the time that the crickets sang. The robins sang some extra songs, and, of course, the other birds joined in the chorus.

"Then came supper time. The table was made of daisies and moss, and such delicacies! Well, it would have made your mouth water!

"They had the goodies that every guest would enjoy most. Not a guest was forgotten. There were even little worms for the birds--and the other guests didn't mind at all, as they knew the robins and orioles and other bird guests loved little worms. They were given to the birds in special dishes made of grass.

"But just as all the guests sat down to supper the fairy queen said: 'Come, all my fine waiters!' And as she said this she waved her wand high in the air.

"Then from far and near the blackest of black crows flew down and alighted all around the table. They had promised the fairy queen to be just as good as good could be, and to wait on all the guests before they had anything at all to eat. They were quite willing to do this, for they had never been invited to a ball given by the fairies before and they were highly flattered.

"They all had had their black suits polished and brushed with the greatest care and they wore very fine aprons and hats made of green leaves. Every time a guest said 'Thank you' when anything was passed, a crow would say, 'Caw-caw,' which means 'You're welcome.'

"The crows always say 'Caw-caw' to almost everything, but it is just the tone they use that makes the 'Caw-caw' mean something quite different each time they want it to. At the end of the supper, after the crows had had a feast, too, the fairy queen asked them if they wouldn't sing the old, old song about blackbirds being baked in a pie.

"At first the crows looked a bit sad, but then they said: 'Why, of course, we'll be happy to sing it. It's lots of fun to sing about such things after we have had a feast and know quite well that the fairy queen wouldn't bake us in a pie.'

"How the guests did laugh to hear the crows singing about blackbirds being baked in a pie--and stopping every minute to shout out, 'Not us, though, oh, no!'--and the fairy queen was delighted."

THE NAUGHTY LITTLE SICK SNOWBIRD

Daddy had been encouraging Jack and Evelyn to feed the little birds that came outside the window. So one evening when it was time for their story he told them about the Christmas a little snowbird had had the year before.

"He was a very self-willed little fellow," commenced daddy, "and he thought no one knew so much about life as he did. During the autumn he had become very chummy with the sparrows. His daddy and mother didn't like that much, as they were afraid he would become as rude and noisy as the sparrows were.

"When the cold weather came the snowbirds decided to leave, but the little wilful snowbird was nowhere to be found. 'Where could he have gone?' asked Mother Snowbird, and daddy said, 'Oh, probably he left this morning with the robins and wrens, for I saw him playing with them!' That eased Mother Snowbird's fears, and off they started.

"When the little snowbird saw that his family had flown away he came out from his hiding-place. He really felt a little homesick and was sorry he hadn't gone, too; but, of course, he didn't dare admit it, for the sparrows had told him only stupid children were obedient. They admired his naughty disobedience and thought it was a great joke to worry his family.

"A few weeks went by, and the days became colder and colder. One night he felt so cold and so unhappy that he flew away from the sparrows, expecting to die any moment.

"The next morning he was found, half dead, by a little girl. She took him in her house, warmed his frozen feet and fed him bits of crumbs and drops of water. Slowly he began to recover.

"It was the day before Christmas, and he was perched on the window-sill in the sun, when, to his huge joy, he saw Daddy and Mother Snowbird outside the window. He flew against the window-glass. The little girl came rushing into the room to see what the trouble was. She was sure from his joyous actions that the other two snowbirds were his daddy and mother, so she opened the window, and the little bird flew out.

"'Oh, dear, we've been so frightened!' said Mother Snowbird.

"'Yes,' said Daddy Snowbird; 'we've been on ever so many trips looking for you, but now we'll hurry down home and fly fast, so as not to get cold, and then we'll be there in time for Christmas day. All the little birds will be there waiting for the Christmas party.'

"You may be quite sure the little snowbird never had a happier Christmas, and he realized that the older birds knew what was best for him."

A SPARROW CALLS ON A HIPPOPOTAMUS

"The hippopotamus who lived in the zoo had a very strange caller the other day," said daddy.

"Into the animal house flew a sparrow. The keeper called out to him:

"'Where are you going, sparrow?' But the sparrow did not answer. He flew right through the animal house until he reached Mr. Hippopotamus' cage. Mr. Hippopotamus was having his bath, and he would not be interrupted.

"The sparrow was rather annoyed that Mr. Hippopotamus didn't want to come right out of the water to talk to him, and he scolded from his perch on the wire of the cage. There he sat scolding away, and the hippopotamus kept on splashing and spluttering as he took his bath.

"Soon the hippopotamus came up from the water and sat in the corner of his cage, and the sparrow hopped over to a wire a little nearer.

"'Mr. Sparrow, I am sorry to be late for your call,' said the hippopotamus, 'but the truth is I wanted to look my best.' And his great, long, funny old face grinned, and he showed his big teeth.

"'That's all right,' cheerfully chirped the sparrow. 'I have plenty of time to-day. My family have gone a-shopping for bread crumbs which they find every day in a certain back-yard. And I have nothing to do. I've come to tell you the news of the world outside.'

"So the sparrow told Mr. Hippopotamus all about the wild scampers the sparrows had been having. He told about their quarrels and how they had made up again. And he bragged about their friends and relations, the song sparrows, who had been very friendly this year.

"When Mr. Sparrow began to be boastful, the old hippopotamus said:

"'You think I'm finer than my cousins in that cage over there?' And Mr. Hippopotamus pointed to some other members of his family. They were very much smaller and their coats looked just like chocolate. 'And,' he went on, 'when the children see those silly cousins of mine they always say, "Why, they look just like tins of chocolate taffy left to cool." They never can say anything quite so stupid about me.'

"'Well,' said Mr. Sparrow, 'I must be off now, as it's time the bread crumbs and the family were coming home.' He spoke about the bread crumbs first, you notice. 'But I'll come and see you soon again, old hippo,' and the little sparrow flew off."

THE ROBINS COME TO THE RESCUE

The honeysuckles were beginning to bud. Already the humming-birds were hovering near and had built a nest right in the heart of the vine. This vine was in a nice old-fashioned garden, but near by there was a vacant lot which was very swampy.

"You know the garden by the vacant lot?" began daddy.

"Yes," replied both children, "are you going to tell us a story about that garden?"

"I am going to tell you," said daddy, "about the mother humming-bird whose little ones were attacked by a cruel snake when they were rescued by the brave robins.

"The snake had come over from the vacant field and had crawled up the honeysuckle vine as the mother humming-bird had gone off for some food. Some robins hovering near had seen the awful snake. They had cried out in terror and had flown over to the nest.

"The mother humming-bird heard the cries and hurried back, but the robins had frightened off the snake. The snake was not a very large one, and really he had been frightened by all the noise the robins had made, and when he saw so many birds flying toward him he got away very quickly.

"The mother humming-bird got back just as the snake was leaving the nest.

"She couldn't thank the robins enough for flying to the rescue and saving her beloved little ones, but the robins didn't want any thanks. They were thankful, too, that the dear little birds had been saved, for birds are very loyal to one another and will risk any danger to save each other."

"I am so glad," said Evelyn, "that the little humming-birds were saved, for I love to see them having such a good time in the honeysuckle vines, and the more there are of them the nicer it makes the summer seem."

"It was brave of the robins to come to the rescue, though, wasn't it, daddy?"

"Indeed it was," said daddy; "but almost all animals and birds will do anything they can to help one another, and they seem to forget that there is such a thing as being afraid if they see any creature in danger or distress.

"After the mother humming-bird had recovered from the awful fright, and after the little ones had shown that they were perfectly well and strong, with no ill effects from their fright, the mother humming-bird invited the robins to partake of the delicious meal she had succeeded in getting before the cries came from the robins."

MR. AND MRS. OWL'S STOREROOM

"Two owls," commenced daddy, "lived in a soft feathered nest in the big woods. After a time they got a little tired of talking and scolding and hunting and midnight parties, so Mrs. Owl, who was always saving odds and ends, thought it would make them very rich and happy if they had a store.

"'What,' said Mr. Owl, 'a store?'

"'Yes,' replied Mrs. Owl, as she smoothed her feathers and polished her back with a bit of bark. 'It will be not only a store, but a supper-room.'

"'Whatever do you mean?' said Mr. Owl.

"'You know,' continued Mrs. Owl, 'that in the world where people live they have parties. There is nothing new about that. Don't we have parties? Yes.'

"Mrs. Owl always answered all her own questions when she had something most important to say, and when she did not want to have anyone interrupt her or disagree with her.

"'And so, if we have parties in the woods, think what a great help it will be to all the wood animals and the fairies and brownies and gnomes if we have a supper-room attached to our store--where after the parties the wood creatures can come and have supper.'

"Mr. Owl sat up very straight and said, 'To-wit, to-who,' or it sounded very much like that. What he meant was that he thought it an excellent scheme. And he went on to tell Mrs. Owl that she could fix up all the dishes for the supper and decorate the tables--and he would go forth and hunt for the good things to eat.

"The store was started right away. The animals came to buy their things in the daytime--and as Mr. and Mrs. Owl were asleep they would simply take them away and not pay for them at the time.

"That didn't bother Mr. and Mrs. Owl at all, though. They wanted to have such a fine store that all their things would be taken, and they left notes for the little animals saying:

"'Take all you like. We must sleep and think up more wonderful things to do for you. As for pay--we don't want it. We're already to be envied for our knowledge. We don't even have to go to school--and are always cleverer than those who do go!'

"The animals were much amused at the conceit of Mr. and Mrs. Owl, but they had to admit that their store was a great success. And as for their supper-room--it was perfect!

"Every evening it was very gay, with the chatter of many of the wood animals and the fairies, after different parties and frolics. Mrs. Owl made the most delicious goodies, and always made the tables look very attractive with wild flowers.

"As for Mr. Owl, he put on a big white apron and a white hat and waited on all who came to the supper-room, and often he would make wise, wise speeches for the benefit of all around him."

POLLY WAS THE HEROINE OF THE FIRE

Jack and Evelyn had been to see a friend of theirs who owned a parrot. The parrot, whose name, of course, was Polly, had completely fascinated them. She could dance when a tune was whistled, she took sugar from her mistress's mouth, and she could talk. She could say: "Pretty Polly," "Polly, want a cracker?" "Polly hungry," "Polly, want a bite?"

So when daddy came home that evening, of course Jack and Evelyn told him all about the parrot, and later he told them a story about another parrot.

"In a small town," said daddy, "a little girl named Alice owned a pet parrot who was very clever. This parrot could talk a great deal and say ever so much more than just 'Polly, want a cracker?' This Polly could whistle, too, most beautifully, and could do a great, great many wonderful tricks. Of course, as you can imagine, Alice was very proud of her parrot, and Polly was devoted to Alice.

"One night when every one in the town was fast asleep a fire broke out in a deserted barn, and, as there was a high wind, it began to spread. The house nearest the fire was the one in which Alice lived, and Polly Parrot was the first to smell the smoke. She shrieked at the top of her lungs, 'Fire, fire!' and the whole household came rushing downstairs and found the library, where Polly was, full of smoke.

"They put on coats and, grabbing Polly's cage, rushed out of the house as quickly as they could, for the flames were beginning to break through on all sides. Alice's daddy rushed off to ring the fire bell, while Alice, carrying her Polly Parrot, and her mother followed along. Soon every one in the town was up and out in the street. The firemen managed to keep the fire from spreading, and they saved all the valuable things in Alice's home.

"As everyone stood around watching the firemen throwing the water on the fire Polly kept calling out: 'It's pretty hot! It's pretty hot! I tell you it's pretty hot!' That amused everyone, so that it kept up their spirits during the awful fire.

"At last, however, the firemen succeeded in putting the fire out, and one of the neighbors invited Alice and her mother and daddy to stay at her house, and, of course, Polly Parrot went along too.

"Polly was now not only considered a very clever bird, but a real heroine, for she had awakened Alice and her family and saved their lives and also the lives of many others, for with such a wind many houses would have gone had not the firemen been called out just when they were.

"Instead of being vain about it, Polly Parrot acted as though her one pride was that Alice was more devoted to her than ever."

THE WINTER HOME FOR THE WREN FAMILY

"A number of little boys living in a small town were very much interested in carpentry," said daddy. "They made boxes and chairs and tables and all sorts of things.

"They had a nice tool shop in an unused barn belonging to the daddy of one of the little boys.

"In the late autumn one of the little boys, who was very fond of birds and especially so of the house wren, suggested that they should build some little bird houses under the low roof of the barn.

"So all the little boys helped because they thought it was such a nice plan."

"What is a house wren?" inquired Evelyn.

"A house wren," said daddy, "shows his difference from other wrens by having black and gray lines on his brown back. His tiny tail points upward and his breast is grayish white. He is very friendly and loves to keep the same home.

"Now, the boys had noticed that one family of wrens had built a nest on the side of this same barn two summers. They had flown away when the cold weather came each time.

"The boys built a fine little house with great care and watched to see if the wrens would go to it. And, sure enough, they did! Apparently they thought it was a beautiful house, although they, of course, wished to furnish it in their own way."

"How did they furnish it?" asked Jack.

"They filled it with twigs, and in the center of the house they put masses of dried grass and twigs.

"The boys were interested watching the wrens, and the wrens seemed perfectly happy. There were no sparrows near by. They saw that the boys were friendly, and they found the wooden house kept out the cold air.

"Week after week passed, and still the wrens didn't show any desire to move to a warmer place. On the very coldest day they would come out, flit about, hop and bow, and be as energetic as possible.

"Of course the boys never touched the house after they'd built it, for the wrens then would have left, and the wrens made their front door so small that a sparrow couldn't possibly have gone inside and bothered the little ones.

"You can imagine how delighted the boys were; and to keep the wrens from feeling homesick for a warmer home, each day they'd scatter crumbs around near the wrens' home, then watch the wrens hop down and take them up to the nest, and the wrens seemed to be very happy when they saw the boys. They acted as if they knew and appreciated that the boys had built them such a fine home."

THE VAIN GOLDFINCH LEARNS A LESSON

"Mr. Goldfinch," said daddy, "was very conceited and proud of himself. To be sure, a goldfinch's voice is very much like a canary's--but it's not quite so lovely--and he can't do the wonderful trills a canary can without his voice cracking. Of course, that isn't beautiful.

"So the fairy queen made plans. First of all, she asked the birds to give her a concert, and gladly they all said they would.

"And the next day, on a row along the fence of an old country road, near the woods, perched all the bullfinch family, the oriole family, the bluejay family, the indigo bird family, and the goldfinch family.

"First of all they all sang in a beautiful chorus, and the fairy queen and all the fairies were delighted.

"Before long the elves happened along by the old fence, and they said:

"'What's up? A concert? May we stay?'

"'By all means,' said the fairy queen, and then she whispered to the elves her secret. The elves sat along the opposite fence and perched on the fence between some of the birds, too.

"When the birds had finished singing in the chorus and were not supposed to sing by themselves, they flew to the wings of the fairies and perched there.

"You can imagine how lovely the fairies did look, with their bright silver wings, and the beautiful birds with their bright colors perched everywhere on the wings.

"'Now,' said the fairy queen, 'remember what I've asked for.'

"At that Mr. Bullfinch came out and sang in his sweet little way. He didn't try to sing anything very big or hard, but he sang a little, simple song, in the very best way he could.

"Soon Mr. Goldfinch came out to sing his solo. At first his song was very fine and all the other birds cried, 'Bravo,' 'Wonderful,' 'Gorgeous,' at the end of the first verse. And they all sang these words in their own little bird ways.

"But at the beginning of the second verse Mr. Goldfinch tried to sing a trill that was too hard for him.

"And what do you suppose happened? Mr. Goldfinch's voice cracked, and all the birds tittered and flew off the fence, chatting with each other.

"'Well, wasn't that a disgrace--and at the fairy queen's concert, too!'

"As for Mr. Goldfinch, he hid his head in shame and felt very wretched, but the fairy queen waved her wand, and said to every one: 'This concert was given so Mr. Goldfinch would learn to be natural and not try things beyond him. We all like you as you are, without silly, vain actions--sing us a simple song now, and we'll forgive you!'

"So Mr. Goldfinch learned he mustn't try to copy the canary."

THE BATS HAVE A JOLLIFICATION

"The bats are all so glad the summer has come," said daddy. "For a long, long time they have been staying in the caves and hiding away in the tops of the corners and crevices. But last night they had their first real jollification.

"One of the bats had said it was high time to go out into the world, but another bat had said it was still too chilly. Then a bat said:

"'Well, what have we wings for?' And after that it was decided that they should be off.

"They waited until it began to grow dark--and then some of the ones who hadn't been sleeping very well got up and flew about a little while.

"Then the others who had been sound asleep woke up just as it became very, very dark. Oh, how the bats do love the night! They love it just as much as the birds love the daytime and the sun. For, though bats have wings, they are not at all like birds and they aren't in the least friendly with any of them.

"So off they started on the jollification. First they whizzed through the air practising their different ways of flying. And after they had all the strength back into their wings, they reached the garden of an old, deserted house, where they stopped for the rest of the night.

"There they told stories and chatted and chatted. For they had a great deal to say after their long sleep, and they ran races, and did tricks, and frightened people they saw coming along the road.

"They would get so near that each person would say:

"'Oh, dear me, I must cover up my head or that bat will get caught in my hair.'

"The bats thought that was a great joke, as they had no intentions of caging themselves up in someone's hair when they could be at the jollification. But they did enjoy playing pranks on the grownups.

"And soon, much too soon, daylight came.

"But what do you suppose happened? Such a wonderful ending to their jollification! Didn't those thoughtful little brownies, who had known all about the bats' jollification--and feeling rather sorry for the bats because they don't have such very good times--send some magic air-boats which picked up the sleepy bats as they flew along. Then they were carried back to their cold, hard beds in the crevices of the rocks--which they thought were so comfortable!

"And as they crept into bed, there were never so many happy bats and pleased bats as these were at having had air-boats bring them home from their jollification!"

THE REPENTANCE OF LITTLE JIM CROW

"Little Jim Crow had been very naughty," began daddy. "He had been bullying Sammy Crow for some time past simply because Sammy was not so large and not so strong as he was. Jim Crow was quite a leader, too, in a very mean way, for he'd tried to influence a lot of other little crows to think it was smart to tease Sammy.

"Well, one day Jim got hold of Sammy and ducked his head into a brook of very cold water, where the ice had only recently melted.

"Poor Sammy was so frightened he almost cried his eyes out, while Jim stood by and laughed and laughed. But Sammy was far from being strong, and the cold water made his head throb and ache, while his bones felt numb and his feathers lost their nice shiny look. He complained so much for several days of his head that his family sent for old Dr. Crow.

"Dr. Crow was a fine physician. He wore great big spectacles, and, oh, he was so kind! When he saw Sammy he became very much alarmed.

"'Why didn't you tell me of this sooner?' said he.

"'Oh, what's the matter?' asked Sammy's mother. 'Is he really very ill? We thought he had a little cold.'

"Dr. Crow took from his black medicine-bag a little thermometer and put it in Sammy's mouth and at the same time felt his pulse. Then he pulled the thermometer out. He looked very grave.

"'Mrs. Crow,' said he to Sammy's mother, 'his temperature is very high, and he must be put right to bed. Put his feet in mustard and hot water and bathe his head every three hours with witch hazel, and I'll call around again this evening to see him.'

"'Oh, you don't think he is going to die, doctor?'

"'I think he'll live, but he is pretty sick and needs great care.'