The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-08-17
Phebe's Bird-Life.

uPoA VIC SIOuuu
Something had whispered to that vain
little head, How pretty those bird
wings would look on your new Sunday
hat" But there was another spirit
there, too-a little old woman, brisk but
thoughtful, and Just now with rather a
stern face.
What were you doing?" she asked the
child.
Phebe felt she could not tell lie with
those great eyes looking into her very
heart, so she did not answer, but stood
looking do yn at the bird still struggling
to rise.
"You was going to hurt it" she cried,
looking down at it, too.
Phebe dared not utter word. Then
the little woman reached out her hard
hand and touched her. Poor Phebe she
was so frightened; chill went through
and through her, and in another moment
she found herself in the strange womans
hand-not little girl but bird.
Go !" said the witch, and tossed her
into the air.
All, the delightful sensation of flying
Would she ever tire of it? When she
had recovered herself, she began to won
oCI WAdO hlHo VI d UlTu sue was.
There's pond right down there. I
guess I'll go and take look at myself,
she said
At the edge of the pond she stopped
and looked in.
Cob, how pretty" she exclaimed
I'm the prettieet bird I ever saw"
Then she strutted up and down the bank,
feeling very proud indeed, and came near
tumbling into the water several times
while trying to get good look at her
self. While she was busy in this way
she saw boy driving some cows, think
ing one of these creatures might step on
her and kin her, she few up on fence
rail and began to sing.
| declare, | can sing beautifully" she
cried, after trying her powers for while.
81 believe I'd rather be bird than
little girl
Higher and higher rose Phebe. Oh,
how delightful it was to fy--to fly above
the great tree-tops, to look down on the
houses far below, and to feel so strong
aud free. Then she thought of the chill
dren shut up in those houses down there,
while she could play in the sunlight all
day long. Away she went to make
friends of the other little birds, and to
tell them how happy she was
AS she was flying through the wood,
she thought she heard the report of a
gun so with beating heart she few on
little more rapidly until she came to a
clump of trees near the roadside. Here
she stopped to visit bird sitting on her
nest with four tiny eggs under her.
Won't you be glad when your birds
come out?" asked Phebe.
Eyes, indeed" said the other bird
and after while I am going to teach
them to fly"
Just as she said this, boy near by
cried out, "Boys, here's birds nest, and
the old bird is on it. Then he snatched
bird, and took it away with him. Phebe
began to think that birds didn't have
such very nice time after all. The poor
thing was crying piteously, and trying to
comfort her, she said:
Il wish the witch would come and
punish those robber boys"
1.-The what?" asked the poor mother.
1.-THE fairy that takes care of BIRDS
When was little girl"
Here Phebe stopped suddenly, fright
ened at the thought Of telling her secret,
aad few away to cedar tree near by.
1t was growing dark now, this strange
day was about to end. 1t grew darker
and darker, and the stars began to come
out one by one. She wondered if the
stars were looking down on her little
brother Willie in his cradle-bed, and if
her papa and mamma missed her very
much, for she felt, OH how sadly-she
missed the goodnight kiss then. If she
could only be little girl again, how
glad she would be. don't know wheth-
er birds dream or not, but if they do,
think Phebe dreamed ofthat pretty home,
Of the little boys and girls she had loved
to play with, and most of all, of her own
dear mother who had cherished her so.
Il hope it won't rain" said Phebe
next morning, as she looked at the great
leaden sky above her; ut would make my
nice feathers look so draggled."
But it did rain very fast indeed, and in
her dismay she flew into an open window
Luckless Phebe her dismay was changed
to fright when she heard some one cry
ing, oh, mamma there's bird. Catch
it for me-" Faster and faster beat her