The Elk Mountain pilot., 1899-04-18
The Little Brown Bird.

to singing.
Its the loveliest hat there is in
madame's windows!" Leigh Tappan
said, nodding her small, positive head,
| decidedly. And I'm going to have
1t on my head next Sunday"
why, Leigh Tappan. anybody d
think you just had to beckon to it,
and it would come and sit right down
on the top O. your head!" Ellie Crane
cried, laughing.
well, then, anybody'd think right
I'm going to beckon to it, and you'll
zee it a-sitting. You walt Ellie Crane!"
The little girls were on their way to
school. Going home that noon, Leigh
ran into madame's to look at the dainty
gray hat near to-"
Can l try it on?" she asked, eager
ly.
Madame beamed down into the eager
face graciously. Judge Tappan's little
girl could try on" anything-cer-
tainly, certainly! Wouldn't she like
to have it sent up home for her mother
to see? Just as well as not!
Nom" Leigh said. "Oh. nom; but
I'll tell hei about it. and l know she'll
let me have it, It's gray, just like
my new jacket! Oh, isn't it lovely?"
She was looking at the dainty little
maiden in the mirror, and little wave
of shy color crept over her cheeks.
1t was becoming, and the little gray
bird certainly would sing in minute.
Il know she'll let me have it," she
called back to madame from the door.
Ellie was waiting outside.
You haven't got it on!" she an
nounced, triumphantly.
"'Tisn't Sunday. You just wait!"
well, will; but wouldn't wear it
not with that dear little dead birdie
on it! Don't you believe you'll feel
like "a murd'rer, Leigh Tappan!
"Ho, the idea! l didn't kill it!
That's just because you belong to Miss
Peabody's Bird Defenders I'm glad
l don't. l was going to Join; but l
shan't now-not If l can't wear that
little gray bird on my hat. Doesn't
she let you wear aigrettes or wings
or anything, Ellie Crane?"
I'VE don't want to wear EN-" Ellie
said, stoutly. We've promised not to.
1t would make us feel like being glad
to have the little birds murdered, and
we're just as sorry as we can be-"
well, so m sorry-all 'xcept that
little gray bird at madame's; and
that's all killed Already. l can't help
it."
Eyes, you can help it, Leigh" said
little Ellie, gently. Anyhow, you
can help having its little brothers and
sisters killed. You needn't seem to be-
lieve it's right"
Leigh felt cross. She twitched her
shoulder impatiently.
What harm will 1t do, Ellie Crane.
IL l wear that little gray bird, now it's
all killed."
1T s 'con-senting unto it," Ellie
said. slowly. That's what Miss Pea
body says-'con-senting unto it You
consent unto it, il you wear the gray
birdie in your hat"
Then I'll consent unto it, l
guess, If that's ALL" laughed Leigh,
mimicking Ellie's grave emphasis.
Judge Tappan's wife was an invalid,
and the little daughter of the house
had things about as she liked them
Eyes, yes, dear, if you like it," Mrs.
Tappan said about the hat. Her white
face was pinched with pain, and she
drew long, weary, patient breaths. 1t
tired her to even think about the
"lovely little gray hat" Take Marie
down with you to see about it. She
has good taste. and so has my little
girl" she added, lovingly. Il can
trust her"
Leigh had "beckoned." and the lit
tie gray hat was coming to her. She
went out on the cool veranda to sit
and make believe learn her French
lesson, and the very first sentence she
saw was: "Un nouveau petit chapeau;
but there was no little soft bird on
it!
Another one, though-a tiny brown
bird-sat on the white lilac bush, and
sang to her. He was fitting slowly up
| and down, up and down; and there
were odd little minor notes in his song.
Leigh had strange fancy that he was
singing to keep from crying. And, II
he had been gray instead of brown,
how much he'd have looked like-Ho!
what an idea! He couldn't even be
brother or sister. He was alive enough;
what did he want to cry for?
The little brown bird sang on, and
on went Leighs queer fancies. Pc
was telling her something sorrowful-
hushl-about his little brown wife and
two little brown babies he loved.
They killed them-killed them
killed them" sang the sorrowful little
voice to Leigh. My little nest is
empty now"
Leigh felt choke in her throat.
Something bright and round splashed
down on I'm nouveau petit chapeau."
MY little brown wife is dead-is
| dead-is dead-is dead! My little
brown babies, tool"
"Is-is-anybody going to wear 'em
-nttr I<.ixx 4, l.,