The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1895-03-15
The Bird-Cago Maker.

The Bird-Cago Maker.
In a town of the ancient Kingdom of
CASTLE there lived, in former ages,
youth called Bartolo, who tried to exc
out living by making cages for birds
and taking them round to sell ut the
neighboring villages. But his trade was a
poor one and he judged himself in luck
if he sold one cage in q day, and, rs
many supposed, he knew what sorrow and
privation were.
One day, as he was proceeding to viii
lage, he heard sounds of revelry, the buzz
of many people, md the strains of a band
cession of children dressed in white, car,
| rying in their midst beautiful child
crowned with roses, in chariot covered
with white satin and Ornanented with
acacia and myrtle. This procession was
IN honor of Maya, the personification of
Spring, and took place to announce the
entry of spring: In front of the little
chariot some children danced and held in
their hands some tin platters for contribu-
tons, and, as may be imagined, all, or
nearly. all, the spectators dropped their
coins into them,
Rartolo moved away in Responding
mood. saying to himself, as he walked
| on: lis this the justice of the world!
There they are, tlingins their money into
these plattcrs just because those children
|
that it is the month of May, as though
they could not know it by looking into
| an almanac. They barter and grind me
down to the lowest price for my cages,
even when chance to sell one!'
Full of these bitter thoughts she walked
! tnnate enemies were making themselves
heard within him-thesc were hunger
and thirst; the one clamorcd for food
and the other for drink. Bartolo had
| nothing in his w;tllet but his claspknife,
and had had naught for his breakfast
but hopes, and these made him sharp
! and active.
tic had reached plantation when he
perceived 4 well-drcssed individual com
| ing toward him. Pressed by hunger.
Bartolo, taking his cap off respectfully,
approached and said:
Excuse me. sir, but could you kindly
it as soon as l earn some money!
Don't you think that it is shameful
thing for man like you, young and with
| good healthy appearance, to be de-
! handing charity of people? Does it not
strike YOU that you have 4 duty TO earn
your living by working at your trader
not fulfil it's own duty. Most people like
to see the birds flying about free rather
than in cages, and, therefore, day by
day, find myself poorer than before"
At first the stranger doubted what he
heard, but the bird-cage maker gave him
| the small profits he derived that he be-
came interested and sympathized with
his ill fortune. Bartolo was man who
always, knew how to excite great inter
est in himself.
Come, come" the stranger said, smil-
ing, Il will DO something. for you. AS
| cannot find customers for your cages
l will afford you a powerful means by
which you shall never more be in WANT
He then blew a whistle, and Bartolo
saw flying before him bird blue as the
sky, which came and perched on one of
his cages.
See here" added the stranger, "what
will compensate for all your past misery.
From this day forward you have only to
formulate a wish and say slowly and dis
tinctly: sBlucst of blue birds, do your
duty? and your wish will be granted to
by my faithv' cried the bird-cage
maker, but l will try it at once. For
the last twenty years I have wished to
your dutyv" ~ ' w
Scarcely were tbsu9ords out of his
mouth than he saw suddenly spread be-
fore him on the grass breakfast ft for
a prince, laid on service of exquisite
silver and glass and the whitest of cloths.
Bartolo, astonished, flung himself on his
knees. before his benefactor to thank
MIN m but ne raised him up, saying:
am the good genius of the honest
workingmen of CASTLE Sit down and cat
without fear. Take advantage of your
lucky STAR" and then suddenly disap-
peare1.
Bartolo reverently bent down and kissed
the spot upon which he had stood, unable
to tlnd adequate expression of his graft
He then sat down and ate his breakfast.
After his meal Bartolo judged that a man
VINO had Toasted in such an elegant man.
ner ought to have other better clothing
than his wcll-worn working suit, and. lift.
ing his staff: he cried to the bird: "Bluest
of blue birds. do your duty!' In an in
one of the richest velvet, embroidered in
gold and silver, and his rough staff into
4 splendid horse, fully caparisoned and
having round its neck collar of silver
bells.
More astonished than ever, Bartolo sus-
pended to the saddle the cage with the
blue bird, lcaped on the horse, and went
his way, rs proud of his dress as donkey
Of it's ears.
Setting spurs to his horse, he soon
reached the gates Of a splendid castle.
Some feast was taking place within. The
er, deploring that they had been disap-
pointed of the Ministries who were to have
played.
Bartolo, ON learning this, advanced to
the bower, and, after elegantly saluting
the lord and lady of the castle, in most
refined voice said:
IF it be right for a simple knight to
offer his services to such a distinguished
company of rank and beauty, I think !
could promise to provide what you are re-
quiring."
ooh, do! at once, pleasev' cried all the
ladies. who were longing to dance.
.B1nest Of blue birds do your duty!'
Suddenly, in the distance, was heard
the noise Of many feet, and a troop of
musicians with their instruments ap-
pcared, to the great delight of the com
pany.
with his eldest daughter, maiden fair
and lovely like a snow bird.
When the ball was at it's height, the
| bird-cage maker ordered an elegant ban
| quot to be served, during which the
bluest of blue birds was commanded to
| sing some songs, which were very much
admired. Games Of chance followed and
Bartolo, taking advantage of his good
fortune distributed among the ladies
| pearls, bracelets and rings of precious
stones. All those present were sur
prised beyond measure, because the lord
OIL the cilStle was known TO DC extremely
| niggartly and mean
The lord Of the castle, who knew how
| all this had been done through the
| agency of the bird, and being himself
| Of an inordinatcly avaricious nature.
thought he might do fine stroke of
| business were he to purchase the bird
Hence, calling his unknown guest away
| to his study, he proposed to him to pur-
chase the bird for what price he should
quote
You would never give me my price,"
replied Bartolo.
! For it I would give my castle with its
nine forests" said the lord of the castle.
1T is not cnough!'
! Every well, will add my olive planta.
tons and vineyards"
| THAT is still Insufficient cried Bar,
tolo. 49,
| Il will add the orchards, gardens and
| houses"
| Il want something clse!'
What! Still more? Why, man, you
| must want paradise itself!''
Ak~A