The Atlanta constitution., 1900-07-16

what Is the matter7' whispered Katy.
leaning forwerd. the tears shining In her
own eyes for sympathy.
Back. heartless wretchr' cried the bird.
quivering all over with rage. rs 1t not
enough that you have taken my beloved
wife and chained her TO the hideous tower
on your head. that you should insult me
with offers of cympathy?" And then. In
mournfIl tones he addressed the biri In
Katy's hat.
did they think. when they dyed you
blue and gave you a yellow head with
staring stony eyes. that could not rec
oenize YOU as my own dear wife VINO
was stolen from me last fall. and left
brood of little ones without mothers
care? Such a beautiful nest as we had
built lined with softest feathers. ana so
happy. gathering food for you while you
sat on the pretty eggs: and then the JOY
when the first little one Clipped the
shell, And now they are all dead. L
couldn't take care of them alone. Doctor
Owl prescribed some snaiis on the half
shell ana six drops of honey dew; but
while I was gone to fetch the medicine,
that rascally doctor ate up Greywing ana
Red-top and No-tail. and poor little
Crook bill fell out OF the nest. Alas.
alas, But they shall be avenged. ana so
shall you,' with that he spread his
wings and few quickly out Of the win
dow.
Hardly had Katy drawn a long breath
of astonishment when-tweet. tweet. nut
ter. nutter. fiutter, whir-r-r-r, In swept
n whole whirlwind of sparrows and few
straight at her. They seized her on oil
sides with their little bills. and. before
she could wink, she was out OF the WIN
dow and sailing along through the ar
What If they should drop her, or run her
head. like a batteringram, against
tree, She wanted to scream. but feared
to open her mouth. lest a bird drop INTO
IL by mistake. for one had hold or her
nose with his little. sharp claws and an
other OF her chin. and their wings made
such a Tapping that II took her orea'h
away.
All or n sudden they stopped and she
found herself sitting safely on branch
with her feet resting on air below. But
she shuddered to finu that they were at
the top Of the great-grandfather pine
She had read that people must not look
down from great heights lest they gro"
dizzy and fall. so she fixed her eyes on
the branch opposite. There sat rs many
little fat sparrows as could crowd INTO
the space. and the boughs around were
covered In the same way. All looked
very solemn and stern and fixed their
bead-like eyes on Katy. At last, one
plumper and larger than the rest drew
himself up on tiptoe ana said In pierre
ing squeak:
Il move. Mr.. Chairman. that said mon
ster 20 be fastened TO said branch OF said
tree TO act and officiate as a scarecrow
TO intimidate. frighten and drive away
all boys and other reptiles who would
rob our aforesaid nests or Kill us for our
valuable feathers. But first we have a
W
n fitting burial to our beloved sister Mrs.
Pert-weet. all those In favor say aye.
contrary no II is a vote"
Whereupon Katy began to cry. partly
because she was afraid OF falling. partly
that he was not used 20 being called
monster" since she was I'm reality
loving little girl. and partly that she wis
convinced that they were going TO rob
her of her blue and yellow bird. the chief
beauty OF her hat. And sure enough,
they fiuttered about her head. pulling
and pecking. TIL the stuffed ui..
free. Then they wrapped II In large plan
tain leaves, and while some went before.
singing a mournful tune, six lifted the
body and bore IL slowly to the ground.
the rest following two by two.
When they reached the earth. they
hoped solemnly along to the pasture,
where Farmer JOnes's calf had kindly
dug a deep grave.
Katy cOuli not hear what they said.
but she saw the bird laid In the grave
and covered with moss and leaves, and
her tender heart was smitten with sor-
row.
i didn't know that they felt like peo-
pie" she sobbed, bit | suppose they
love each other just as l do my friends.
Oh, me, how cruel | have been"
She couldn't blame the birds for want
fancy acting In that capacity herself.
AMI IL wasn't fair 10 put on her the
blame OF all the bird-Niling. She never
had killed bird in her life. So she tod
the sparrOws when they returned from
the funeral. bu: they looked at her cold
ly and merely said. The receivers az
bad as the thief.
But | shall fall" sobbed Katy, Il
can't hold on much longer"
"Oh. we'll look out for that" wis the
rcrly. and they proceeded to tie her to
TIE branch with long blades of grass,