The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1895-02-09
BLUEST OF BIRDS.

In a town Of the ancient kingdom of
CASTLE there lived in former ages q
youth called Bartolo, who tried TO cka
ont a living by making cages for birds
and taking them round to sell at the
neighboring villages. But his trade was
d poor one, and he judged himself il
luck if he sold one Cage i'll u day, and,
as may be supposed, he knew what sor-
row and privation We're.
One day as lie was prooaeGin. to a
village he heard sounds Of revelry, the
buzz Of many people and the strains Of
:. band of music. This 1acrrymai-ins
was a procession of children dressed III
white, carrying i'll their midst "a Leau-
tiful Child crowned with roses il 9
chariot covered with white satin and
~orEaincnted with acacia and myrtle.
This procession wa i'll horror of Maya,
the personiiication of spring, and tccll,
place TO aGllou.ico the entry Of spring.
In front Of the littlo chariot some cEil-
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 i'll a ~despondin.
mood, saying to himself as he walked
on: lis this the justice of the world?:
There they are finging their money
into these platters just because these
children come in processionto announce
to them that it is the month of May, as
though they could not know it by look
ing in All almanac. They barter and
grind me down to the lowest price for
my cages wen when l 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 aud said:
Excuse me sir, but could you kind
~ give me n trif1e? I promise 1 will re-
turn it as soon as | earn some money!"
Don't You think that it is q shame
full thing for O 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 w 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 l 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
n 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 distinctly, 'Bluest of
%bluebirds, do your duty and your
wish will be granted to you"
by my faith!" cried the birdcage
maker, but I will try it at once. For
the last 30 years I 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
a prince laid or a service Of exquisite
silver and glass and the whitest of
cloths. Bartolo, astonished, flung him
self Oh his knees before his be~nefactor |
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 %reverently bent down and
kissed the spot upon which he had