The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1907-08-03
MASTER. RnRIN-

window
This is the very worst summer that ever hap
pened" replied Charlie at Just rains all the time
Yes, and we can't do anything" chmed in Car
lotta.
The two children had been at grandma's for
week, and it really had rained almost all the time
The vacation days went fast and it was hard not
to be ableto go fishing, after flowers even out
In the woods.
Aunt Fannie thought a moment. "Wat until I
get my knitting and | will tell you about sum-
that it did not rain"
The twins were soon perched on the arms of her
chair, and the clouds were all gone from their
bright, sunshiny faces
Aunt Fanny was such busy woman that it was
great treat when she could take time to tell stor
les. They often read story in the paper that said
by Fannie Allen'-that of course meant Aunt
Fannie, but that was not like having her really tell
one, and she did tell the splendidest stories.
'Will this be a true one." asked Charlie.
<'Yes every bit true"
ooh, goody, goody~ exclaimed Carlotta. "That
kind is best"
When they were settled Aunt Fannie began.
"Once upon time but not very long time ago.
two robins came flying through the woods. Thcp
went first to tree and then to another, and the
way they few about and chirped told every one that
they were going housekeeping, and looking for
a place to build their home After a good deal of
hunting they found just the best place in the whole
world-an old maple tree where the branches were
so thick one could scarcely through the leaves
"They went right to work, and for several days
were busy carrying twigs, grasses thread and MANY
other things to into their home. At last
it was finished, and they moved into it.
at must have been their first housekeeping, for
Father Redbreast was happy he sang all the time
One morning it seemed as though he would split his
little throat he was so full of JOY. He seemed to
have new song. Over and over he sang:
q" 'Twee, twee come and see
Nv beautiful nest and blue eggs three
Had you peeped into the nest you would have
found it was all true. There sure enough, were
the three blue eggs. For several weeks Mother Rcd
breast spent all her time taking care of the eggs
and keeping them
after a time Father Redbreast began to look
very important and puff up his feathers as though
he most too proud to fly like other birds So
no one was much surprised one day when baby
robin held its bill over the edge of the nest for his
dinner"
"Where were the others ?" asked Carlotta. "There
were three eggs"
"No one knows what happened to the other eggs
for there was but one baby bird Having just
little baby Father and Mother Redbreast were verv
careful to teach him everything that little robin
should know, and young Robin was such smart lit
tie fellow that long before the summer was over 10
really seemed to know as much as they did.
did say much! That mistake. There
were one or two things that he had not learned.
Again and again Father Redbreast showed him how
to keep his feathers all smooth and tight so to-
make cravenette when it rained, and how to ruffle
them up when he wanted to take bath and feel the
cool water on his little hot body. Then, too MotheH
Redbreast walked about in the grass and told him
how delightfully."- cool and refreshing it was to battle
his feet in the dew in the early morning.
Robin listened to all this very respectfully, but
sometimes he almost wondered if it was fairy
story. Not once had he felt the cool dew, or the
randrops beating against his feathers and trying to
get under, and in his short life he had not had a
chance to even take bath
"All that long hot summer there had not been
any rain or dew. The springs had dried up and it
was all the birds could do to find drink. Some
times they would have been very thirsty had it not
been for the berries.
"Just on the other side of the forest lived
Charles and George Frost Every evening beauti-
full shower kept the grass in their yard fresh and
green.
Zone morning, just as Robin was starting for
his moring fly, Charles mother said 1T is so very
warm believe we will turn the water on the front
lawn this morning.
"The hose was taken out, the sprinkler set on the
lawn. Then the water turned on, and delight
full spray gave fresh drink to everything.
Master Robin often visited this yard, for the
apples on the big tree were fine. This morning, p-
deed he had started out with an apple lunch in
mind. As he flew out of the woods such a strange
sight met him. He so surprised that he for
got to use his wings and he almost fell to the
ground. Was it? Could it be? Yes, it surely must
be a shower. But how strange! 1t was like his
father had said it would be, and yet it not what
he expected.
"IIe quickly decided that he would try it any
way. Down he flew. How cool the damp grass was.
but he could not stop for that.
"The boys looking from the window saw him hon
into the spray. For moment or two he had just
the best time of his life. Then something hap
pened. He stopped, tipped his head on one side as
though he was thinking few out just as fast as be
could 60 scarcely stopping to shake the water off
as he went.
Back he flew to the woods, and then-what was
he doing2 Instead of going straight home he
stopped first at tree, then at another, talking
for a few moments with the birds ia
each. As soon as he left the birds would come out
and fly away. A few moments later Charlie, look
ing out of the window, called: Mamma, mamma
come and seep
''From every direction the birds were coming for
bath. Charlie counted hundred, then he
I\Vbv mamma +he first rohi, p,,,c+