Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-02-12

tiful morning. the birds met In the
garden to choose their king. All the
birds were there. from the largest to
the smallest, chirping and singing on
every bush and tree.
Now the eagle expected to be king.
He felt sure that he could fly higher
than any one else He sat apart, on
tall pine tree, looking very grave
and noble, just as king should look.
The birds glanced at one another and
| nodded their heads and whispered: HE
is sure to be elected king He can
fly straight toward the sun without
out winking. His great wings are SO
strong that he never grows tired. He
is sure to be king"
The eagle heard them and was
pleased. But the little brown wren
heard them also, and he was not
pleased. He wanted to be king him
self, although he was one Of the small
est of birds, and Gould never protect
the others.
81 am more clever than the eagle"
he said to himself. though he is so
much bigger. l will be king in spite
of him For the wren had great
idea in his little head. He ruffled up
his feathers to make himself as huge
as possible, and hoped over to the
branch where the eagle was sitting.
well, Sir Eagle" said the wren,
II suppose you expect to be king?"
The eagle started at him with his
great OI!gh, eyes. We'll. If | do,
what of that?" he said "Who will
oppose me?"
II SHALL" said the wren, bobbing his
little brown head.
"You!" said the eagle. DO you eX-
pect to fly higher than II"
| Eyes. | do" chirped the wren; Eyes,
I do"
"Ho!" said the eagle, scornfully 81
am big and strong and brave. | can
/ fly higher than the clouds. You, poor
little thing, will be out of breath be-
fore we have gone twice the height
of this tree
Little as am, | can mount higher
than you,' said the wren.
What will you give me if VIM
asked the eagle.
IF you win, you will be king, and
i will serve you" answered the Wren
But if win, l shall be king. and you
must promise never to hurt me or any
of my people"
i very we'll. I promise" said the
eagle. "Come now, you foolish crea
ture, it is time for the trial"
The birds we're tapping their wings
and chattering eagerly. LET us begin
We want to see who is to be king
Come, birds, to thc trial. Who can fly
the highest? Gomez"
4 Then the eagle spread his great
wings and mounted into the dir
straight toward the MONDAY sun. And
} after him rose number of other birds
, who wanted to be king. But the wren
was nowhere to be seen. The truth
: was, he hoped lightly upon the eagles
head, where he sat like tiny crest
: But the eagle did not know that the
little trickster was there.
. Soon the other birds fell behind, one
, after another, and the eagle began tc
think that he had won an easy victory
} Where are you, poor little wren?" ne
cried very loudly.
Here l am. here am, away III
above you, Master Eagle" piped the
wren, in weak voice.
"IIow strange that the little wrer
has passed me-" thought the eagle
and he flew on faster and faster. Soor
he called out again in loud voice
, We'll, where are you now, poor little
Wren?"
Once more the eagle heard the tin!
sllrill voice from somewhere above Zip
, ing: Here l am, here ! am, nearer
the sun than you are, Master Eagle
Will you give up now?"
OF course the eagle would not give
up. He new on higher until the gard
en- and the birds grew dim below. Blu
at last even the mighty wings of the
eagle were weary for he was farabovt
the clouds. Surely" he thought
nov the wren is ,ttr miles behind.
He gave a scream OF triumph ant
: cried: Where are you now, poo
little wren? Can you hear me, at all
] down there below
But what was the eagles surpris,
to hear a little voice above him "Her'
am, here am, Sir Eagle. Look III
and see me, look" And there, sur,
! enough, he was fluttering above thu
eagles head. "Now will you agre,
. that have won?"
Yes, you have won, little wren
i Let us descend together, for an
weary enough" cried , eagle, an,
i down he swoopc.., on heavy wings.
0 Yes. let Is descend together,
murmured the wren, once more perch
r ing on the eagles head.
When the eagle came near tn
e ground. the other birds set up a CT
of greeting.
Hail. King Eagle!" they sang
y How high you flew! How near tn
sun! Hail, mighty king' But III
t eagle stopped them.
1.-The wren is your king, not l." b
i said He mounted higher than
did"
r THE wren? Inc wren? We canno
believe that the wren flew higher tina
J. you? No, not" they all shouted. Blu
just then the eagle lighted on tree
/? ana from the top of his head hoppe
the little wren, running his feather
q Droudly