Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-30
A STRANGE FEAST.
RY W. W. STORMS.


Listen. my wee ones and you shall
hear what happened long ago in far
off country where the land slopes away
toward the sunshine. No human kind
lived there. and everything was at peace.
The honeysuckle twined about the slen-
der sapIings and bloomed in its Joy. The
bees took the honey In welcome from
the deep cups and carried it home to
the hollow tree in the forest. The briar
bushes were just as glad as the honey
suckle and the bees. for they were load
ed with berries which the singing birds
came and ate. Even the trees were
happy as they nodded and spake to each
other in whispers. The tall grasses
kept swaying gracefully like the dancers
In a Spanish minuet. all seeming to say
BE glad. Be glad II is good to grow
and feel the warm sunshine lifting us
up
Sometimes the playful breezes would
stop to rest, and then you could hear
the piping song of the brown grasshop-
per there in the sunny patch where
sweet fern and wild roses grew side by
side The aTasshOpper thought only of
his song. here was plenty TO eat and
plenty of ashine. To be sure there
was plenty - eat, for just at that mo-
ment delicate dainty. bright green in
sect no longer than the ErasshOpper's
left middle foot Fl ated DOWN on the
very stone where the era hopper sat
There was one dip of the cad, quick
bite or two. and the del ate, dainty
bright green insect was no more. The
grasshopper took a nap for a minute or
longer, and then the piping song went
on.
Just then, my dear wee ones, cloud
came across the sun. The shadows
passed over a tree top where a mother
bird slept beside her four unfledged nest
lippG The shadow without a sound.
but its passing was enough to startle the
mother bird and set her forth after
food for her brood. Down she flew,
among the sweet ferns and wild roses,
to the spot where the brown grasshop
per sat singing. A single snap of the
bill, few quick flaps of the wings, four
hungry threats wide open, and the piping
brown grasshopper was no more.
The clouds across the sun grew darker
A young gray owl, not yet used TO the
ways OF the world. futtered out from his
hiding place IN nearby tree. He flew
at random, but some chance, either good
or Ill, took him straight to the nest of the
birdlings. The mother bird screamed as
she darted away. The little ones opened
their throats, thinking that so much stir
meant more food; but, alas. few sharp
scratches, a few bites with rough beak
and the four untiedged nestlings were no
more.
The clouds across the sky grew darker
yet. The gray Owlet partly flew, partly
tumbled TO the ground He winked and
hlinked. then fiOundered awkwardly toward
a ledge Of rocks where he might cuddle
down till nightfall and dream of tender
birdllugs He found a snug nook, smoothed
out his conscience folded his wings and
felt that to be a gray owlet was the best
thing Ia all the world. Gradually his big
eyes went shut. He was coming to the
first part Of his dream when sly fox
whose den was under the same rocky ledge
thought he Smelled owl Out came his
sharp little nose. slyly smiling the air Next
came his two eyes. lie could hardly be-
lieve them. So tempting a dinner, nap
ping at his very door! Carefully, noise
lessly the red fox pulled himself together
The owIet dreamed on. for he had not yer
learned the ways of the world. Then camt
swift spring, a snap OF jaws. and, before
the mapping gray owlet could open his eyes
he was more.
The clouds grew darker and darker, m!
dearest wee ones. they covered all TIT
sky. The sly red fox thought II was tim'