The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-04-27
THE BLUE-LOOKING BIRD.
A Little Story for Breadwinners Rich ani
Poor

Arkansas Traveller: A tired, worn-ou1
mother, who had gone to the country will
her little girl, sat under tree. Soft ali
came down across a clovered slope, and
silken grass hung over and futtered on the
dimpled surface of rivulet. The yellow
poplars were in bloom, and the humming.
bird, with her Easter dress still new, twit-
tered in ecstatic vanity at woodpecke1
that sought to WOO her. A handful of vio-
lets, held by the little girl. were yellowed by
dandelion. She was pale child, with, it
seemed, premature plenitude of brown
hair. She had never seen the country until
that very day, and she could scarcely be-
lieve that she was permitted to gather the
flowers.
"Won't the policeman come and take
them away from me?" she added, looking
about timidly and sitting down beside her
mother.
country
Then hen, why don't everybody live in the
IF everybody did then there would be
need of policemen"
But we could live here, couldn't we?''
mo. for there would be no work for me
But you wouldn't have to do any work
If you lived here"
"Oh, yes, dear, I should have to work no
matter where might be-"
"Why"
because am poor"
"Who made you poor?'
"Oh. don't ask such questions, Mary"
"You never did anybody any harm to did
you?''
'Never in this world"
"And have rich people done harm9"
Some of them have"
II am too tired to gather flowers. Will I
catch cold if lie down here?''
NO." the mother answered, making pill
low of a shawl, "lie down and go to Sleep"
And if
THAT BIG BLuE-LooK1NG BIRD
comes back will you wake me up so can
see ..7 Ran'
She was soon fast asleep. The tired wo-
man bent over her. Cattle came down and
drank at the brook. A farmer boy breaking
up the corn land in an adjoining field, cast
glances at the sun, as though longing for
the noon hour, and foot,sore man. with a
rusty bag thrown across his shoulder, trud-
ged YEARLY down the road. A woman in a
far away door yard stood with bread tray
resting on low gate post, and cheerily
called the chickens.
i. The little girl awoke. where are my
uOWeIhg sue dSkeQ.
Here they are, dear, just where you left
them.'
II dreamed that the policeman came and
took them. Did the blue bird come back?,'
mo. but he may be back after awhile.
Do you feel rested?'
Almost. wish you would sing to me-"
"Oh, can't sing now, Mary, declare
can't. 1t is almost as much as I can do to
talk
''Please sing just little bit of bit.''
precious, l really cannot. Don't you
know that have not been able to sing any
since had that awful cold in the winter?
Come, let us 60 up to the house."
They went to a farm house not far away.
A brusque woman was sweeping the yard.
A lazy dog with one eye shut, lay on the
porch.
II reckon you find it mighty lonesome
out here" said the farmers wife.
"Oh. no. the city woman replied. "This
is the only resting place / have found for
many a day.
well, guess it does keep a body on
the move in the city, havin' to 60 to SO
many balls and parties"
Il do not go to any. / work in q shirt
factory"
"W6y, didn't low that city folks had 70
work at all. always thought that the folks
in the country had to keep them up in their
idlenees."
''And my little girl expressed the opinion