Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-10-23
ROBIN REDBREAsT, THE WISE.

When q Persian wishes to say
something very complimentary to
you, he will remark, "Why, you are
as wise as the little robin redbreast."
Then, If you should laugh and say:
Are robins wise? l never knew
that" he will be very much sur
prised and will ask, SIS it possible
you have never heard about King
Sathes and the robin redbreast, about
that wise little bird?"
OF course, if you are any sort of
boy or girl, you will then immediate
ly cry out: ooh please, please tell
me about it; for have never heard
it and l dearly love stories!" and
equally, of course, the Persian-es.
pecially If he is not "he" at all, but
a dear auntie or cousin or grand
mamma instead-will take your hand
and draw you close and begin.
Many, many years ago. Metha,, the
beautiful young wife of King Sathes,
needed a new summer palace She
had three large and airy ones al
ready, it's true; but somehow she
could not be happy without fourth
one.
King Sathes promised to build her
this fourth one of gold, of silver, or
of ivory, which would she prefer?
But she said: "No, silver and gol-
den summer palaces and even those
made of carved ivory are all out of
date. l want something new, want
a summer palace built of the bones
Of BIRDS"
"But. my hearts blessing" said the
king, "just think how many birds you
would have to kill to get bones enough
for a palace! and what a pity that
would bel"
But the lovely queen insisted. She
said she must and would and should
have birdbone summer palace, and
she must have it Immediately, tho,
or even sooner. AS the king still
hesitated, she stamped her slender
foot, pouted her coral lower lip, and
winked both her sparkling black eyes
now all running over with tears;
and the king, who loved his charming
Netha a good deal more than was good
for her, instantly sent out his heralds
to the four winds to call together
the birds of the air and the birds of
the deep,-big birds, little birds, land
birds, water birds, song birds. and
birds of prey,-to come straightway
to give their little lives and their
bones so the queen might have her
new summer house.
All the birds accordingly came soar.
ing and fluttering and flying and wad-
ing and swimming and stalking and
waddling, all of them but one,-the
little robin redbreast, the kings fav.
orite bird,-promptly and readily.
Robin was late, nearly ten minutes
late; and, of course King Sathes was
very angry.
"Why are you so late?" he cried
frowning at the little bird, daintily
perched on a slender branch just be.
fore him.
"Your majesty" said Robin, 81 was
far away when your summons came
l was at the furthermost corners OF
your maiesty's kingdom!"
"And why were you SO far away!'
reproved the king, and what were
you doing at the furthermost corners
of my kingdom?"
II was counting your majestys
subjects" said Robin, "the men and
the women and those who, in time
will be men and women,-the boys
and girls"
AHA" said King Sathes, then at
least you were doing something use
full. And what is the result? Have
more men or more women among
my subjects?"
ooh, ever and ever so many more
women than men, said the robin
"There are easily twice as many wo
men as men in your majesty's king
DOM"
Then the king grew 'angrier than
ever to think he should have more
women among his subjects than
men; and he commanded that the
robin should be the first bird killed
and that Immediately.
81 am not to blame that your mai
esty has so many women subjects.
walled poor robin as the royal arch
ers rudely grasped him. 81 counted
as women all those men with whom
their wives can do as they wish"
"Stop!" cried King Sathes to the
archers, and he sat in deep thought
for few moments. Then he said:
"set all your bird prisoners free. II