The courier., 1898-11-26
A STORY OF THE BLUE JAYS.

fat had not suited them!
They were plump and healthy but
hungry. The poor, tired, little mother
had said they must soon learn to fiy and
find their own fruit and insects. This
day she had been out since dawn, hunt
ing daiuties for her offspring; and had
Gown 60 fer and made 90 many trips in
tho heat that she was wellnigh ex-
hausted.
Besides she had had - yet no break
fast for herrelf. Four ravenous mouths
had clamored for each morsel which she
brought with her.
Now Ter patience was exhausted.
"Henceforth you must fly. and feed
yourselves!'
Four scared voices shrieked out, I'VE
shall fall, and the white cat with the
fearful eyes vi ] eat us."
Mrs. Jay had told them Of this cat
who lived in the grounds and fingered
about their tree. Now she grimly re-
piled, THAT 10 your outlook" and hit
the nearest bird with her strong bill. IL
was 90 unexpected that he fell from his
perch, and gave himself up for lost.
Somehow or other--he did not know
how-his wings spread gently and the
What q delightful sensation. He
soothing, swinging motion waited him
near q lower branch where be rested.
"Why, brothers. it is easy to fy," be
called up but they were already floating
near him. The mother hado pushed
them ali from the branch. One almost
missed his footing when aliehting. and
might have fallen on the ground.
The others chirped encouragingly. but
no one remembered the cat.
"Let's do it again." they cried, "this
IL more fun than sitting on that tire
some branch"
Mother Blue Jay called sharply for
them to be careful, and not to forget
the cat, asleep in the grass, who was
waiting to devour little birds.
But they cooked their tufted crests to
one side most tdisrespectfully andecoFned
the warning. This is what one Of them
sang. The others joined in the re-
frain-
"Who cares for the cat with the awful
And the dreadful claws?" "Not /, not l."
IF she try to our branch % high,
We will strike With our bills from above
up there
At her greeny eyes with the frightfal
glare,
And pull from her head tuft of hair.
For what care we for greeny glare.
Or clawy claws thst can tear and tear,
Now We can fly, we can fly, We can 6y?'
The white cat asleep in the weeds,
where the long grasses swayed in the
wind, heard and smiled as she turned
over toward the tree. The fur on her
face hid the smile, She had seen and
eaten many a boastful bird. Now she
slept with her eyes-closed? Well, the
foolish birds would have thought so
could they have seen her, but the ieavee
were thick on the branches. and the
branches. and the weeds and grasses
bent over the cat-she could not be
seen. Her eyes were shut, all but q
tiny line through which she watched
while she dreamed.
The birds flew lover to q young cherry
tree, They wondered that. their mother
had not made them understand that
flying was easier than sitting on a limb;
you had but to open you wings and it
was done.
Yen see they had only down hill there
would be the tedious return to make
after awhile They played on the little
low CHEEKY tree, from there hoped to
low wooden fence.
Mother Blue Jay called. "Come back
to the treev But the leader scornfully
sang, "Who cares for the cat with the
glaripg eye?" And they all replied.
"Not 1, not l."
The sorrowful little mother flew
nearer. They now playing in the grass.
A motionless body crouchei low in
weeds, breathless. expectant.
The birds tried short fights. and on
each return to the ground, approached
nearer the rank growth Of grass and
-oo1c