The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1891-06-18


disturb their Joy till Mr.. and Mrs ORR
ole came to live in an elm tree near by.
They selected q long, graceful branch,
and in fork far out from the trunk Of
the tree began to build most artistic
and elegant home.
Mr.. Catbird, going out for soar one
morning, caught sight of the new.
corners as they were busily working on
the new house. Their bright colored
garments, as they flashed in the sun,
sent thrill-not of pleasure, l am sorry
to say-of jealousy to his heart. He
hurried home, and found modest little
Miss Pewee chatting with his wife. He
could not conceal his vexation till the
guest was gone, but burst forth: "Who,
1should like to know, are those fowls
who have just moved into the neighbor-
hood and are setting themselves up
above their neighbors?''
II believe" said Miss Pewce, 'that
they belong to the Blackbird family;
met Sphinx Bobolink the other day
and he said that some of his relatives
were going to move to Bird Grove
Soon"
"H'm!' broke out Mrs. Catbird,
''they have no reason to be stuck up on
account of family. The Grackles be-
long to that family, and of all the
noisy, cosby birds 1 know they are the
worst. Why, they are as common as
the vulgar crows. If you are going to
look to family to decide social stand
ing, I think ace shall have as good a
name as any. l suppose you know that
11v lr
prodigies of the age, are closely con-
nected with rs by family ties" Mrs.
Catbird was so eloquent on this sub
ject that she could have chartered on
for an hour, had not Miss Pewee ven
tured to remark:
''For my part, like these new neigh
bors. Their home promises to be a
marvel of architecture. AS for fine
clothes, if they can afford to wear
them, I am glad for it gives me pleasure
to look at them; and their singing is so
fine, I am sure they are great addi-
ton to this neighborhood." These re-
marks so nettied Mr.. and Mrs. Catbird
that they could not conceal their ill
feeling, and, as a young friend who had
been paying marked attention to Miss
Pewee happened along at that moment,
che sailed away with him.
For some reason or other Mr.. and
Mrs. Catbird did not look at the world
through the same goggles they had
worn the day before, when, with the
greatest pride and satisfaction, they
had made the plan for their humble
home. The twigs they had collected
looked rough aud angular, the grass
seemed coarse, the leaves too dry, and
their ambition to work was not reused
by the bright sunshine and the songs of
other birds as they flew busily back
and forth; for there were those stuck
up, snowy orioles attracting the attcn-
ton of every one by their vain display.
While they were standing sulkily, with
tails dropping, wings hanging down,
and feathers not preened, thinking
what they could do to outshine those
oriole upstairs, a trim robin who had
been working earnestly for two hours
saw them, and, as they both looked as
though they were sick, he stopped to
see if he could be of service to them.
'Oh, no." said Mr. Catbird, THERE'S
nothing the matter with us; but what
do you think of these new folks who
are Haunting out their wealth IN this
quiet placer"
"Why," said Mr.. Robin, " called
on them yesterday and found them very
pleasant, unassuming people,"
''You dared to call, did your Mrs.
Catbird cried out. II have felt that our
clothes were not good enough, and
thew would Onlv look down on us''
Here Mr.. Catbird Remarked: sOur