Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1895-02-14
BLUEST OF BIRDS.

S1stIlO tHC4O A1hSu III 4OIAHct ages q
youth called Bartolo, who tried to exc
out living by making cages for birds
and taking them round to sell at the
neighboring villages. But his trade was
a poor one, and he judged himself in
luck if he sold one cage in day, and,
as may be supposed, he knew what sor-
row and privation were.
One day as he was proceeding to
village he heard sounds of revelry, the
buzz of many people and the strains of
band of music. This merrymaking
was procession Of children dressed in
white, carrying in their midst beau
tiful child crowned with roses in
chariot covered with white satin and
ornamented with acacia and myrtle.
This procession was in horor of Maya,
the personification 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 desponding
mood, saying to himself as he walked
on: rs 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, as
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 / 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 plantation when he
perceived a well 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
ly give me triie? | promise / will re-
turn it as soon As j earn snsna- r,loney. y
Don't you think that it is a shame
full thing for a man like you-young
and with 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 man
who always knew how to excite great
interest in himself.
"Come, come" the stranger said,
smiling. 81 will do something for you.
As I cannot find customers for your
cages, | Will afford you powerful
means by which you shall never more
be in want -
He then blew 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 viii compensate for all your
past misery. From this day forward
you have only to formulate 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, ''but | viii try it at once. For
the last 20 years ] have wished to kill
hunger. 'Bluest Of bluebirds, do your
dutyr -
Scarcely were the words out of his
mouth than he saw suddenly spread be-
fore him on the grass a breakfast fit for
prince laid on service Of exquisite
silver and glass and the whitest of
cloths. Bartolo, astonished, flung him
self on his knees before his benefactor
to thank him, but he raised him up,
saying:
81 am the good genius of the honest
workingmen Of Castillo Sit down and
eat without fear. Take advantage of
your lucky star, !" and then suddenly
disappeared
Bartolo reverently 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
ter clothing than his well worn work
ing suit, and lifting his staff he cried
to the bird, 'Bluest of bluebirds, do
your dutyi" In an instant his old suit
became transformed into one of richest
velvet. embroidered in gold and silver,