Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1907-12-05
HOUsEBUILDING ASSOCIATION.

nave lOuHu IL. L nave IOunu
it," cried Chirpy Sparrow to his
mate. Really enough material, my
dear, to last us for the building of
many homes"
eve want only one," said Mrs.
Chirpy, who was a practical little
housekeeper.
Eyes; but we can store away any
quantity for next year."
"What is it?" inquired the lady.
"Come, I'll take you to see for
yourself" and, spreading his wings,
Mr.. Chirpy flew straight to the top
of a nearby house, alighting on a
clothes line, which swayed to the mo-
tion of his body. Mrs. Chirpy fol-
lowed him closely.
WELL" she said, just like a
woman, II prefer straw to new rope;
all the pecking in the world would
scarcely get a strand"
Mr.. Chirp! winked, and pointed
to hard-looking knot toward the
end of the line. Mrs. Chirpy went
over to inspect.
over her shoulder; then she went at
it with beak and claw, and Mr.
Chirpy came to her help.
isn't this find?" he asked, as
they flew together with a generous
supply to the stone cornice where
they had decided to build
"I should say so, but what is the
use saving it? We may find some
thing better next year. If you were
a man of business, my dear, you'd
make something out of this discov
cry"
Mr.. Chirpy smiled, as If women
understood about business.
"Oh, you may laugh" said his
wife, who had started work mean
while, "but if you organized great
housebuilding organization you could
receive payment in early worms. You
know how you hate to get up and
now necessary an early worm is to
me while l am brooding. Besides
which, Sparrowville would be so
much improved if the houses were
better built and this material is too
lovely for anything"
"Well - well - well." said Mr..
Chirpy, "I'll consider it."
Mrs. Chirpy smiled to herself; she
knew the early worm" scheme had
fetched" him. And she was right.
BY noon the news had spread and
the great housebuilding association
was organized with as much clatter
and chatter as if they were stock
brokers. Sad to relate, however, all
was not peace and harmony, for when
Mr.. Chirpy retired from business
with his pockets full of promissory
notes for early morning worms there
was a lightning rush for the knot
of rope 1t was scarcely large enough
to hold more than half dozen work
ers at time, so having nothing else
to peck at, the onlookers pecked at
one another.
Mr.. and Mrs. Chirpy looked on
aghast
Really" said Mr.. Chirpy. II
never imagined this sort Of thing"
"How could you be such stu
pid?" said his wife. "You should
have delivered all the rope yourself
1t would have saved no end of trouble
and bad feeling"
Mr.. Chirpy threw back his head
and laughed until he nearly fell OIL
his perch.
Deliver the rope myself" he re-
peated. "Why, I'd rather have got
ten the early morning worm"
"a worm in ones beak," said Mrs
Chirpy, sis better than any promise
I'm afraid the housebuilding associa.
ton will get ahead of you"
TITS your fault" said Mr., Chirpy,
hufly.
well, I never!" Mrs. Chirpy fold.
ed her beak and her bright eyes gilt
tered angrily. That was SO like a
man.
But each day the trouble increased
until the ceaseless squabble of the
small birds reused the neighborhood
The sparrows tore and tore at the
bit of rope until the ends were frayed
and 1t hung loosely.
Then, alas! the Great Housobuild-
ing Association came to sudden and
direful end, for housemaid came
up and took it away. And only three
worms left as payment at the CHR.
pys door.
"There!" said the little wife, 81
told you SO! What are we to do?
It's only your early bird that catches
the worm, you know
Mr.. Chirpy shifted uneasily from
one leg to the other; he had heard
that so often. it was ono of Mrs.
Chirpy's pet sayings, He glanced
at the tired, anxious face CT his mate,
at the new-lined nest ready for the
eggs, which must soon be laid, and
his duty was plain.
Call me at sunrise" he said, as
he tucked his head under his wing
New Haven Register.
To calculate the rate Of flow of an
artesian we'll a simple plan is to lower
bottle of analine fluid to depth of,
say, 500 feet, and then electrically ex.
plode a cap to burst the bottle. The
time required for the fluid to appear
at the surface gives an accurate
gange as to the velocity Of flow.
e"us