The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-10
Save the Poor Christmas Birds.''

lng themselves in their uniforms as they
ran This made il somewhat awkward
-, Nc ti,s ere crisf erof tanoIed M
In his coat so that 1t was all around
his face, and thus he happened TO run
into the shoemaker agl1o was lAs secOnQ
assistant drepau carrier, and the two
fell down. The butcher, who was carry
ing a ladder fell on top OF thems and Dy
the time everybody was Strengthened
out the geese had swum to the very
middle Of the pond and did not pay any
attention whatever to the town goose
herd, who stood on the bank, crying
kindly.
Here. Christmas blrdsl Here, sweet
Christmas birds! If you get wet feet
you may get sore Threats, and think how
bad soFethroats wiu be with necl1s as
long as yours2
The geese, however, did not look at
him at all
Thank heaven you are herer' said
the gooseherd to the volunteer hremen-
''NoW you can save themH
How so2'' asked the tailor, indignant
iy. What do you mean by sending for
us2 There is no ere around them and
we cannot dc anything in the matter
what you need said the shoemaker,
sis a hfa-saving crew, If You had more
learning you would know that without
you are right" said the schoolmaster.
who had arrived by this time II our
burgon1aster had taken my advice long
ago we would have one now and we could
save the poor Christmas birds
The burgOmaster scratched his head
and said; But you never advised me to
get up q hfe-saving crew.
'sOf course not said the scheolmaster.
''You would not have taken the advice
anyway SO 1t is your fault Just the
same"
.'That is right said all the people
f'If only our schoolnaster's advice had
been folloWed.g'
Just then three men from HTicI1letown
came along. and when they heard and
saw what had happened they said to the
ssTos1 NAV we'll consider yourselves
lucky that these birds are out ia the wa
ter where they cannot Rarnl you. have
been inclined to hiss at you when you APP
preached themF
eyes" said all the people.
'fWelL" said the three men Of MCKEE
town, that is because they always so
mad al this time Of the year 1t is this
also which makes them so pale IL they
were healthy they would be a fne glossy
black, like the birds which we have in
ou7 sacIrs" And with fhat fhev oDeue6
their three great sacks and showed the
people Of TinkletoWn q huge number Of
crows which they had caught in the
town where they would fetch i've cents
each for their feathers
Goodness met groaned the burgomas-
ter. what shall we do?'
Seeing if IS you" said the three men
of Nickiet0wn, Eve win catch your
Christmas birds, because we have had
experience ia those things. and may be
able TO DO So without being killed. and
we viii take them with us and you
may have these fine healthy black ones
to show that we are neighbc wy. =
isn't that splendidg'' cried all the PEG
ole. and they Immediately fell on the
crows and carried them off, leaving the
cunning men OF NickIetoWn to wait til
the geese swan ashore when they
hastily drove them Of, chuckiing, and
all WiekIetoWn went mad with delight
when 90 heard the story.
The people of IinktetoWn were 50
overIoFed at getting me healthy Christ
mas birds ia exchange for bad ones
that they invited the Grand Duke and
an his rotainers to have Christmas din.
ner With them. on Christmas mornins
an the great guests arrived, hungry as
Ee,~~ 80 f7,e Grand Duke had efver
0rdere that no one should eat q thing
Ia order to preserve b dne appetite.
FlvafV5odvss mouth watered when the
roaatea birda were brought ans but e
- drst bite the Grand Duke jumped