Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-06-22
1or Duurg Readers.
WISE MRS. SWALLOW.

MRS. SWALLOW had just finished her
nest, and fastened it snugly on one side
% 'iie chimney, when along came the
North Wind in terrible passion.
lie had had quarrel with some of his
relations IN Greenland, and had rushed
out, like the silly, bad-tempered old fellow
he was, to wreak his spite on whatever
came in his way.
So, growing and shrieking and whist
ling and groaning, he blew off any num-
Der OF hats, scared hundreds of Young
blossoms from the cherry-trees and left
them to die on the road, rocked all the
little wooden houses like so many cradles,
and then flew from the streets to the
chimneys.
Away went brick here and there, and,
alas! at the second great puff, away went
Mrs. Swallows nest too.
She had built it so carefully and Won
dertully, carrying up wisps of hay and
bits OF straw from the lanyard, and lin
ing it with some of Gray Hens softest
breast feathers!
And now where was it? "Ha! ha! hap
laughed the spiteful old Wind, wouldn't
you like to knOw?"
Then he spied Mr.. Swallow hurrying
home with fine worm he had found, and
he fastened to get behind him and drive
him along so fast that he came bump up
against Mrs. Swallow, nearly knocking
her from her perch, and at the same
6rnJ0TnH no ho hoI =
far.
"Whew" said Mr.. Swallow, when he
got his breath again. "'This is a blow"
It's an i'll wind that blows nobody
good" muttered the worm as it crawled
quickly away.
But what's the matter, my dear?''
continued Mr.. Swallow. "Why 90 you
look so serious? And-bless my heart!
where's our nest?"
"That horrid old North Wind snatched
it from the chimney, first tumbIing me
out and rumpling all my feathers" an
swered Mrs. Swallow, with tears in her
round, black eyes. And now what are
we to do?"
" Cheer up, my own wee birdie" CHR
ruped her husband. 81 can't bear to see
you cry. Wen get just inside the chin
ney until we are quite sure he's gone,
and then We'll call on Madam Owl and
ask her advice. They say she has become
so wise through studying the stars night
after night, and night after night, that
she knows everything, and so, of course,
she will be able to tell us what to do"
But, Swally," said Mrs. Swallow,
"our family don't like Madam Owl, and
have never been friends with her. Only
the other day, when she was doing, I
pulled feather out of her head myself"
-" That was very naughty, my DEAR"
said Mr. Swallow, looking as though he
thought it rather cunning, g but [ don't
believe she'll remember it if we are very
polite to her and pay her some compli-
ments. And now you'd better take a lit
tie nap, for Madame Owl only receives
company at night, and I'm afraid you
can't stay awake when it becomes dark
unless you do.'
So Mrs. Swallow, like an obedient wife,
took nap, and Mr.. Swallow did, too, for
that matter, although he said. when Mrs.
Swallow woke him, "He'd only been
thinking"
AS soon as evening came, away they
flew to the old oak-tree where Madam
Owl lived.
She had just supped off plump young
feld-mouse and was very good-natured,
and listened with the utmost patience un-
til they had told their story. Then she |
said:
"Tu-whit-tu-whoo! oh! ali! yes!''
Wasn't it too bad of the Wind ?" |
asked Mrs. Swallow.
-whit-tu-whoo! oh! all! yesr' an
swered the Owl.
"Can you tell US what to do?" asked |
Mr. Swallow.
Madam Owl looked at the moon half AN
hour-looked at the stars half an hour
looked at nothing half an hour-and then
said very slowly, Tu-whit-tu- WHO'D! oh! |
ah! n-o-o-o."
{" Good night twittered the angry |
swallows, and flew quickly back to their
chimney again.
Much good it did us going to Madam |
Owl" said Mrs. Swallow, with a pout, as
soon as they reached home "I never |
did believe those stories about her know
ing 50 much. Why, if J said as little
and had as big eyes as Madam Owl, no
doubt all the birds would call me wise, |
too And now I'll tell you, my love, what
1 think we'd better do. Get up with the
sun to morrow morning-make another
nest, and fasten it on the other side of the |
chimney"
" Upon my word, my DEAR said Mr..
Swallow, "you're an extra -di- mary
birdp' and being very tired, he tucked his
head under his wing and went to sleep
Rargoret EVtsnQe, in st. Nicholas.
Couldn't Stop.
Ibis Is the Wav good manv hGvc crat