Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-30

Prater of love- he Missed. you, too. shall
go the way of hate, for your dainty eggs
are more tempting fare than King Solo,
mons frog"
The wise king stared in amaze.
Yet you are safe" he wondered, but
by what ruse?"
Lord. cooed the dove, las Sir Serpent
poised to strike, harsh cry sounded be-
meath the branch with curious rustic of
rafting quilts. For an instant he paused
in alarm. then noiselessly glided away"
rustic of quilts stirred the scented
breeze and dull brown bird excitedly
strutted within the circle Of cleaning
hearts.
II must have startled the serpent" he
boastfully said. Last night while scratch
Ing for insects among the bushes 1 stepped
ratified my quilts. for 1 thought 1t some
Nenomous worm. Then a CLEAN of silver
sh26 swiftly past and fled in the dusk"
,bravo. Sir Peacock" praised the wise
KING The serpent dreaded the night
alarm OF your silent cry. for he only preys
in the solitude"
But he will return when he thinks I'm
alone sobbed the dove. Lord grant me a
protector, that l may hatch o1s my nest
lngs undisturbed by his wiles."
Solomon gazed at the Uztle gray bird
with a puzzled smile.
Your protector Will probably share the
tate of your mate he unused aloud so
who shall send on the dangerous quest of
guarding your nest, oh, bird of lover"
The peacock ruffied his breast with pride.
My long, bare quilts may not be pretty"
ne exclaimed, and my call, / grant is a
tribe harsh. but they have their uses since
they frightened the serpent. which is more
than the rest of the birds can assert"
That Is So" nodded the king though
you're rather too vain for such a plain
brown bird"
Lord" cooed the dove, why blame him
for pride when he offers his service in
love?" "
Truly, you are a wise little bird" smiled
the king. Go, then. Sir Peacock on your
service of love. The trees and the sky and
the brook and the breeze shall aid YOU to
shelter the dove"
And If he succeeds, lord" pleaded the
dove let their gifts be his for all time
In reward"
smiled solomon, lest the dusk fall before
you reach your nest, and you find your
eggs gone. Later we'll talk of rewards"
The dove and the peacock Travelled away
by shady glades and poisoning hedgerows
yer brook.
YEARLY they paused on the moss-grown
bank, for the warm summer sun had heat
ed the scented breeze.
Cool and tempting, the lmpid stream
crooned as Ii rippled along:
birds" "
But the gray dove mourned in reply:
Never again will l battle or drink in
clear water, lest l revive the image of my
lost mate" And she sighed, for great was
her thirst
Poor little dove" said the peacock
See, yonder where the low hanging will
lows ulm the stream with their shading
green Is shallow pool I'll ruhle its sur
lace with beak and breast so you may
uIlnk without fear of grief
ihe peacock stepped in the shady pool
piuhBlnS and dipping his crest until the
water qulvfred with dancing ripples of
due and green, shot with a wondrous sill
yer tinge. Ola
The weary Doe sank in the ruf "A noel
and Quenched her thirst In its cooling fo,y
Just as she stepped on the messy bank a
sun-rift parted the willow boughs. staining
the pcacockS feathers with the waters
changing sheen Proudly he paused beside
the dove, and stared at his mirrored gold
green crest and the shimmering blue OF bis
breast $3.50
That is my gift for your service of
love, ripped the brook. And the gray
ooNe cooed, forgetting her woe in the pea
cocks delight 49,
Then on they journeyed till the sun sank
10" IN the west. But grief and her flight
10 the great kings court had robbed the
dove of her strength YEARLY she faItered
on the brink OF pool just across from the
apple tree where she nested.
Il can never fly over" she sighed land
fear for my eggs, for 1t will soon be
dark" ~
The peacock pondered awhile then firm
and straight he lifted his featherless ouiIls
Perch on my back" he babe the dove
"and will bear you safely across"
The gray dove nestled among the uuills
and the peacock bravely breasted the pool
But when he reached the opposite shore