The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1886-08-13
THE cHlLpREN's PLAN.
Sad Failure of an Attempt to Fly with
Borrowed Feathers.


Borrowed Feathers.
1t was bright, warm day. Mike
was threshing in the barn, while the
sunshine streaming in at the open door
turned the grain dust to gold. Out
side, in the yard, were the children and
the chickens-the former idle enough
and the latter running here and there
and scratching vigorously as if their
lives depended upon their own exer-
tions. Presently Winnie picked up the
dish in which she had brought the corn
and went back to the house, but the
Younger children fingered, declaring
| that The pleasant autumn day was just
like summer. From watching the
| chickens they began watching the
doves on the roof of the barn.
"rd rather be bird than a chick
en- said George.
"Pd like to be a Bird" said Nell,
the sky. Ib'lieve could Nost fly to
Heaven, any wsy. I'd go way off
over the ocean,"
"Why can't we flyp" asked George,
wonderingly. 81 never thought about
that"
'Cause we don't have any fezzers,"
explained Teddie, turning round from
his post of observation by the barn,
door.
"That's tive haven't any feath'
ers or wings" said Nell; 'if we had
/ guess we could fly.
I'm going to have some righ
now," declared Teddie, jumping dowr
! from the steps and beginning to picl
, up some of the feathers scattered
, about the yard, sthen I'll fly way off. '
, That was brilliant idea! The littl
J girls opened their eyes in wonder fo
! minute, and then they followed Ted
1 dies example, and three pairs of littl
: hands worked busily. They stuc
4 feathers in their belts, feathers in thei
hats, feathers in their shoes, and the
with a great bunch in each hand the
climbed to the top of the chicken
house 'to get good start as Georgi
said.
st I'll don't know how" admitte
Teddie; rather doubtfully, as. the
n stood in row on the roof of the 10
" building.
:. "Why, you must flop your wins
Just this way" said Nell, waving III
/ hands wildly; land when l S.
; 'Three!' we'll all jump off and f.
s One, two, three!'
o The jumping was easy enough, b
n alas for the flying. Down among Il
" straw and hay of the barnyard tumble
y three disconsolate little figures, al
81 Teddie, striking an arm against an 0
i wagon box, set up cry Of pain whi
er brought Mike from the barn.
re 'And why couldn't ye fiyP" repeat
&c Mike, when he had heard the stoI
ys "Why because the wings was none
Of your own, and nobody can fly wi
or borrowed ones. If yell just remel
le Der that, it'll be something wol
es learnin', for there's plenty of old
IN folks than you that's thryin' TO do
X They fly into splendor on other pt
g ple's money. and into good society
IN the Responsibility of their families, a
le- some Of 'em even think to fly il
or Heaven on the goodness of tn
he fathers and mothers. They'll neS
II do it; it's nothing but pickin'
'er feathers in the barn-yard, and it'll G
III in tumble"
he Mike went back to his work, an6
la. the children did not quite understa
OF him, Nell caught part OF his me
ing, for she said: ''Well, if we ca
or make good birds guess we can m;
IN good children, and we'll have to v
I'M ill God gives us wings. Morn
va Star