The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1900-09-08
The Humming.bird's Love-

The scent OF apple-Dlossohis hhcu
the air. All over the beautiful meadow
the sbft spring wind waited the deli
cate perfume, and the birds and butter
flies seemed to breathe In its sweetness
and give it out in song and color. Inc
pink and white branches We're blown
gently to and fro till the little petals
danced and grw pinker with the exer
else. The first tiny humming- birds, one
nv one. flew to the branches, ana
dipped their heads further and further
into each pink petaIIed heart. as though
its sweetness were Irresistible.
Teddy, with his small hands firmly
grasping bunch Of violets which were
beginning to die in the heat, toddled up
and threw himself down, a tired, hot
little heap, under the very biggest,
sweetest apple blossom tree In the
whole meadow. The butterflies new
round his head; but they were no temp
tation lust then to call him from his
soft green couch, for they were what
had made him hot and tired. and had
made his lovely violets droop their
heads. For all the morning Teddy mad
chased them from clover bed to clover
bed and from violet patch to vioiel
patch. all in vain, until their bright
wings, fitting in the air, made MIN
dizzy, and his chubby legs almost gave
way.
And SO he lay there under the BIOS
SONS. with his head against the trunk
of the tree, trying to catch his BREATH
and watching the wanton things as
they whirred past. :.
And close In the track Of large vel
low one there came the dearest little
humming- bird on the wing; and ne
brushed TeddyI cheek in his eagerness
to reach the apple bough quickly
Teddy rolled his blue eyes heavenwaro
to follow the humming-bird, but II
went into such a high branch that ne
could hardly see it.
1t stayed a very long time, and ther
few down again. And Teddy though
it had gone forever; and he felt ver'
sorry, for it was SO bright and tiny
There was something about 1t mor'
loyable than any humming- bird he hat
ever seen.
But. lust as he was beginning to fee
sorry. back it few again, quicker tnai
before. And SO it kept going and com
ing several times.
The fifth time 1t few 80 swift.
: Teddy could Just hear the whirr-r-r o
/ its wings as it went by him. but he wa
, so anxious to know what made 1t com
] bock so often that he called after II
He noticed that it always went to Jus
!, the same bough, which was litti
pinker and sweeter than the rest.
drumming bird" he called, "Wher
are you goingY
"To see my love-" the hummint
q bird called back from the PIN
branches.
"who is your love. and what Is
: iovey' called Teddy.
! Look, and you will know" caiie
q the humming-bird from among IL
branches. :,
And Teddy looked way up to the III
o topest bough of the apple-tree; an
e there on the pinkest branch perched II
v humming- bird, while the sweetest al
pinkest blossom, with fairy's fac
d swayed in the breeze beside him. Ill
is hair was made Of sunshine, her ey
Il were made OF the sky, and her Ore
was of pink petals.
mo WONDER" thought Teddy, IT
humming- bird could not stay away!
!" wish had love-"
le Just then the humming-bird Gale
1--WE are coming down to you. Tedd
Y. nv love and l." And. spreading
y wings, the humming- flew doy
I'd with his love on his feathery back.
lg sand his love settled herself
Teddy's warm little hand, out of Will
er the yiolets had fallen, and swayed
C. and fro as IL she were In cradle.
e. Tell me, Teddy" she whisper
nd "whaa would you rather have tn
IL. anything In the world?'
III And Teddy looked straight into TIT
+" skiey eyes, and then at the lovely ia
ey Cheeks like yours" be said.
Ia And at that the humming- bird lau'
ey ed a soft little laugh; and his le
Its futtered up to Teddy's cheeks, and
in petals brushed first one and then
other.
mt Then she kissed him on his lips, a
be few away on the humming-Dir
e." back
TX And every one says to Teddy's mo
x~1