Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-27

spring at the serpent's words.
The king will not weave his garland l
fear" sighed the dove.
ITS as bad to be dumb as dead" ex-
claimed the chickadee; Eve must all rush
down together and force our way past him.
lhere always chance that some NAV es-
cape and save the right flower at that
sheloiee. said the redwing. Il wish We
We're out of the woods"
Inc hameiess brown bird had listened in
shehce, still hurt at the hawks sighting
words. But he was a generous. friendly
SUI; ana ,he fed"ings plant reminded him
or the little bird 5 offer
Leave it to me, have a plan I'll out
Wit Sir Serpent with his mockng laugh by
clever trick. he said then whlsnered
softly to each bird in turn.
It's well there's a flower too few
cuuckIed the nameleSS brown bird Come
let be Off
The birds plucked the blossoms each bird
one. then iyin high they entered the path.
once in its gloom they stole along close 70
the arch overhead.
Just as they came to the edge of the
wood the moonlight fell on Sir Serpents
slver-rnged coils
Silently the birds perched among the trees
where the path opened toward the meadows
beyond the woods
'kill-deer, Iill-deer!' shriekad the spar-
row-ha wk from the thicket to the right
Then "killic" and "Cherolee" echoed the
woods. Sir Serpent raised his great head.
in amaze. Not bird was in sight
Cherokee" called voice u little way Off,
and 'Pholbe;" answered the chickadte,
You're trying the woods" Kissed the
serpent you'll never get through"
"Killic, killic" family sounded the
hawk.
II can't get them all. but I may trap
few" thought the Serpent.
GOO. COO" whispered the dove from the
leaves.
There are none to be seen in the pail
that's clear" Kissed Sir Serpent, and glided
into the thicket
But swift as he sped toward the doves
sweet call. the birds fiuttered down from
the trees that arched the narrow path.
one by one. through the opening. they flew.
away TO the great kings court.
Sir Serpent turned at this rustling CT
wings but chorus of calls sounded close
in the thicket beside him.
"Cherolee! Whip-poor i'll"
The serpent plunged In the underground.
"killic! Killic"
He darted off after the hawk
"Chrp. Chirpr' cried the robin And
he climbed the tree. but the bird had fed.
All night long the serpent searched in the
silent wood led on by the calls
When the day shot its CULVER of gold and
blue through the dancing leaves Sir Ser
pent came gliding along the path,
I've cheated We. I've cheated ye!" came
the goidfinchs call. high in the trees.
Cheated ME! You silly bird Missed the
serpent. angrily. The flowers are faded
by now, so the others may go. But you
shall pay for that mocking cry
The nameless brown bird flew out of the
leaves just the serpent's hsad shot high
in the tree.
Hobo, Hohor' laughed he 'The birds
went free while the moon was high, Don't
YOU know all those calls were stored in my
throat? Hoho, Hoho,'
And the brown bird circled away through
the opening boughs at the edge of the
woods
High in the oak that grew near the silver
brook the nameless brown bird sped the
hawk
Did you all come safely to solomons
court he cried.
'killic," replied the hawk, you wonder
full bird, The king slept in his garland,
but | feared YOU were lost
"Hoho Hobo, Not l." Knocked the bird.
II left Sir Serpent hiding ashamed in the
woods for I've stolen his laugh Hobo.
Hoho!'
Solomon welcomed the nameless bird as
he fiuttered into the velvety circle of en-
erald grass.
rive found your name at last" smiled
the king. "Mockngbirdr
oh JOY" cried the bird. and in his de-
light launched into the air with burst of
trills.
His whole soul thrilled into melody Quiv-
ering and futtering In the golden light. NE
fioated in an ecstasy Of delight; rising and
falling with the delicious notes. he swept
down at last on the scale of his song to the
great kings feet.
"Mockinbird.'' spoke Solomon what
wonderful trills. Hencsforth, as gift to