Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-22

|
loot. the jackdaw chuckled with glee
| Ihen cautiously down from his nest came
| the curious, mischevious bird when Tie Ser
| pent crept back to the daisy-ringed court.
| ne pryed and poked among the roots till
yellow CLEAN in the dark met his eye
| The Wonder key!' he exclaimed, "Sr
| Serpent has broken the sheath
| He picked 1t up in his beak and made his
| way up the tree just as the Serpent re-
| turned with one of the gifts in his mouth.
The Serpent will surely come searching
my nest when he misses the key" the jack
daw thought. Il must hide it somewhere
| else"
When the Serpent again crossed the brook
| the Jackdaw flew off to the woods. where
| delight at outwitting the thief he care
| lessly scratched the earth over the key.
and never thought to mark the spot before
| he returned to his nest.
| With the dawn's first shaft the parrot
! awOke and saw with dsmay that the gifts
| were gone. Only the golden film remained
| to show where Solomon had set them forth
on the previous day.
! He hastily summoned the faithless OWL
and together they racked their brains to
devise some scheme to soothe the Kings
| wrath
I've found way the parrot exclaimed,
| at last Friend OWL you must swear that
| you kept on watch all night
| You persuaded me to sleep" objected the
| owl, I'll not bear all the blame. You're
| the culprit''
| you'll very soon find that excuse won't
| serve with the King" the parrot scornfully
shifted. Hell simply say you had no right
| to disobey."
| .'Hoo-oo But we have got ourselves in
| a dreadful plight" walled the owl.
| I've thought out a plan to lay all the
| blame on the King" returned the parrot.
| Before the owl could disagree Solomon
! came from his palace of gold. The Jackdaw
flew down from the old elm tree, the birds
| and the beasts and their brother Man gath
| cred around the daisy ring. The Serpent
| too. crept from his lair in the twisting roots
| and Joined them there.
| Solomon mounted the throne with a ter
| rible frown when he saw the empty film
| The owl quaked with fear. but the parrot
| stepped boldly forward.
] Lord" he spoke "'tis your own fault"
Solomon stared in angry amaze, but the
| parrot, undaunted, continued: when you
| set the owl to watch because his sight was
| so keen in the dark you wholly forgot that
| the Moon sheds light almost as bright
as day. How could he tell the rustling he
| heard was anything more than the summer
| breeze if he could not see"
| THAT is just" spoke the King. land just
| It is too that / should humble my pride
| TIC pay for my error
| "Sir Serpent, the war you have waged
on my subjects and me III freely forgive
| if YOU will restore the Key he said
| NAY Lord the Serpent replied 1T Is Ill
: to suspect me of theft. / came in all HUI
| mility to ask forgiveness for past offenses y
| "Your reward shall be great If you'll set
| vour wisdom to avert this loss, the king
| implored 1.-The birds and the beasts will
| suffer much If they can no longer make
| known their wants.
| mine in your service, lord" the Serpent
| meekly deplored.
| The Jackdaw strutted into the daisy ring.
| his bright beady eyes twinkling merriiy, ana
| he gave bis head toss.
| Lord you'd have none of my help he
| cuckled yet alone know where to find
the key which Sir Serpent thinks SO well
| hidden"
| The Serpent Missed angrily. darling his
| great fangs forward. Solomon stayed the
| venomous shaft with his ball-tipped wand.
| Peace Serpent" he sternly commanded,
| and bade the Jackdaw explain his meaning.
The Serpents eye cleaned wickedly, and
| he glided away to the secret lair when the
Jackdaw told of the midnight raid and the
| hidden gifts.
Twill be death to whoever comes near"
| he Kissed as he coiled beneath the elm's
| twisted roots.
"In truth, your wisdom is spent" Knocked
| the Jackdaw, mischievousiy pirouetting
| along tn, edge of the silver brook. II left
| you the shattered sheath to guard when l
| filched the Wonder Key"
The Serpent, in baffied rage fed away to
! the forest depths, while the Jackdaw kept
| on with his praneing.
Stay your madcap whirl," the wise king
| said .and be off for the Key. You must
! bring it here before the twilight hour
| The Jackdaw obediently flew off leaving
the birds and the beasts to search the hid
den lair. One by one they brought forth the
gifts and spread them out on the filmy web
of woven golden threads.
Hour by hour the King and his subjects
| sat waiting. The Sun climbed higher and
| higher. and then sank lower and lower till
| the Moons pale disc cleaned dimly In the
| sky. But no Jackdaw came.
| The last warm rays lighted the way for n
| very disconsolate wanderer
Lord cried the Jackdaw--for he it was
with jaunttness gone-'the Wonder Key is
lost
| Then with the setting Sun the brother
| hood OF oil living things must end. and my
| magic sway sighed Solomon, 1.-THE radiant
gates VIII always stay closed till the Key
Is found again."