The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-02-09
BLUEST OF BIRDS.

youth called Bartolo, who tried to exc
out a living by making cages for birds
and taking them round to sell at the
neighboring villages. But his trade wa
a poor one, and he judged himself in
luck if he sold N cage in a day, and,
as may be supposed, he knew what sors
row and privation were.
One day as he was proceeding to q
village he heard sounds of revelry, the
buzz of many people and the strains of
n band of music. This merrymaking
was a procession of children dressed i'm
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,
the personitication of spring, and took
place to announce the 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, all, or nearly all, the spec
tators dropped their coins into them.
Bartolo moved away in a responding
mood, saying to himself as he walked
ON: lis this the justice of the world?
There they are fiinging their money
into these platters just because these
children come in procession to announce
to them that it is the month of May, ca
though they could not know ID by look
ing in an almanac. They barter and
grind me down to the lowest price for
my g even when / 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 his
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, but could you kind
~ give me a trif1e? / 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 a 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 own duty. Most peo-
pie like to see the birds flying about
free rather than in cages, and therefore
day by day I find myself poorer than
before"
At first the stranger doubted what he
heard, but the birdcage maker gave
him SO 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. Il will do something for you.
AS ! cannot find customers for your
cages, ! 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 a 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 q wish and
say slowly and distinctly, 'Bluest of
bluebirds, do your duty and your
wish will be granted to you"
by my faith!' cried the birdcage
maker, "butI will try it at once. For
the last 90 years | have wished to kill
hunger. 'Bluest of bluebirds, do your
duty!'
Scarcely were the words out OF his
mouth than he saw suddenly spread be-
fore him o the grass a breakfast fit for
prince laid on q service of exquisite
silver and glass and the whitest of
cloths. Bartolo, astonished, flung him
self on his knees before his b~enefactor
to thank him, but he raised him up.
saying: :
Il am the good genius of the honest
workingmen of CASTLE. Sit down and
eat without fear. Take advantage of
your lucky star, - and then suddenly
disappeared.
Bartolo r~everently bent down and
kissed the spot upon which he had
stood, unable to find adequate express
sion OF his gratitude.
He then sat down and ate his break
fast. After his meal Bartolo Judged
that . man who had Toasted in such an
elegant manner ought to have other bet
Der clothing than his we'll worn work
ing suit, and lifting his staff he cried
70 the bird, ssBluest Of bluebirds. do
your dutyi' In an instant his old suit
became transformed into one of richest
yelvet. embroidered In gold and silver.
and his rough staff into q splendid horse
fully caparisoned and having round Iii
neck . collar Of silver bells.
More astoniahed than sven, Bartolt
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