Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1895-06-07
BLUEST OF BIRDS.

In q town of the ancient kingdom Of
CASTLE there lived in former ages a
youth called Bartolo, who tried to exc
out q living by making cages for birds
and taking them round to sell at the
n%eighboring villages. But his trado was
q poor one, and he judged himself in
luck if no sold one cage in q day, and,
as may be supposed, he knew what sor-
row and privation were.
One day as no was proceeding to a
village he heard sounds of revelry, the
buzz Of many people and the strains Of
q band Of music. This morrymaling
was a procession Of children dressed in
white, carrying in their midst a beau
tiful child crowned with roses in q
chariot covered with white satin and
ornamented with acacia and myrtle.
This procession was in horror of Maya,
tho peTsonifcation of spring, and took
place to announce tho entry of spring.
In front Of the little chariot some chill
dren danced and held in their hands tin
platters for contributions, and, as may
be imagined, al, or nearly all, the spec
tators dropped their coins into them.
Bartolo moved away IN o Responding
mood, saying to himself as he walked
on: SIS this the justice of the world?
There they are hinging their money
into these platters just because these
children come in procession to announce
to them that it is the month Of May, Gs
though they could not know it by look
ing in an almanac. They barter and
grind me down to the lowest price for
my cages even when I chance to sell
one"
Full Of these bitter thoughts, he
walked on sadly, for the voices Of two
importunate enemies were making them
selves heard within him. These were
hunger and thirst. The one clamored
for food and the other for drink. Bar
tolo had nothing in his wallet but lis
clasp knife and had had naught for his
breakfast but hopes, and these made
him sharp and active.
He had reached a plantation when he
perceived a we'll dressed individual COM
ing toward him. Pressed by hunger,
Bartolo, taking his cap off respectfully
approached and said:
Excuse me, sir, bat could you kind
~ give me a trife? / promise l will re-
turn it as soon as / earn some money. -
Don't you think that it is a shame
full thing for a man like you-young
and with d good, healthy appearance
to be demanding charity Of people? Does
it not strike you that you have a duty
to earn your living by working at your
trader"
Eyes, sir, certainly, but my trade
does not fulfill its W duty. Most peo-
plo like to see the birds flying about
free rather than in cages, and therefore
day by day l find myself poorer than
before.
At first the stranger doubted what he
heard, but tho birdoage maker gave
him 80 detailed an account of his work
and the small profits he derived that
he became interested and sympathized
with his i'll fortune. Bartolo was a man
who always knew how to excite great
interest in himself.
"Come, come" the stranger said,
smiling. 81 will do something for you.
As / cannot find customers for your
g 1 will afford you Il powerful
means by which you shall never more
be in want"
He then blew q whistle, and BartolC
saw flying before him a bird blue az
the sky, which came and perched on
one Of his cages.
"seo here, added tho stranger,
what will compensate for all YOU
past misery. From this day forward
you have only to formulate a wish anC
say slowly and distinctly, 'Bluest Of
bluebirds, do your duty and your
wish will DO granted to you"
'By my faithl" cried the birdcagC
maker. "but / will try it at once. For
tho last 20 years l have wished to Kill
hunger. 'Bluest Of bluebirds, do YOU
dutyr
Scarcely were the words out Of his
mouth than he saw suddenly spread be
fore him on the grass a breakfast fit foi
a prince laid ON q service Of exquisitl
silver and glass and the whitest Of
cloths. Bartolo, astonished, flung him
self on his knees before his benefactoI
to thank him, but he raised him up
saying;
Il am the good genius Of the homes
w~orkingmen of Castillo. Sit down anC
eat without fear. Take advantage o
Your lucky star, " and then suddenly
disappeared.
Bartolo reverently bent down an'
kissed the spot upon which he ha;
stood, unable to find adequate expires
sion Of his gratitude.
He then sac down and ate his break
fast. After his meal Bartolo judge
that a man who had Toasted IN such ~
elegant manner ought to have other bet
ter clothing than his well worn work
ing suit and lifting his stat he cTie'
to the bird, "BluoEt Of bluebirds, d.
your dntyl'' In an instant his old sui
became transformed into one Of riches
velvet. embroidered in gold and silver
and his rough otah iuto a splendid hors
fully caparisoncd and having round t.
neck a coila< 81 silver bells.
More astonishod than ever, Bartoll
suspended to the saddle the cage will
tho bluobird, loaped on the horse anI