Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-14

through the air so that you don't have t.
| take time to stop for lunch? Can you
build a nest out of little pellets of mud /!
Because I'm thinking of having an ex-
tension put on nay nest and If you are q
good bricklayer / might lure you to help
me-"
why. no." answered Cecilia. in polite
| surprise. at was never brought up to dc
| any OF those things
The swallow looked at her in pity. You
can pick up worms of the ground I sup
poser" he said.
Il never did such thing in my life. p
said Cecilia. but I'll try"
you will have to-" said the swallow
you came from while the cat Is loose
Now come and help me with the nest"
| Cecilia thought the sparrow was rather
abrupt In his manner, but she followed
large and dark Swallows nests were
built on all sides of 1t. The swallow stop
ped before one Of them.
This is my nest" he said. "Here's
where 1t needs mending."
The nest was made of mud and straw
and had hole in the top for the doors
| way Cecilia thought 1t looked very un-
comfortable, but she was too well bred
to say so.
Now we'll get some straw and mud, -
said the swallow In a business-like tone.
So they dew up the chimney again. They
left the roof together, but in a few min
utes the swallow shot far ahead of Ce-
celia, though she tried her best to keep up.
Hurry! Hurry" called back the swal-
low.
I-can't go-any-faster." painted Ce-
celia.
Nonsense, said the swallow. Watch
me-
But I'm canary: I'm not built that
Nonsense" said the swallow again
You've lost your golden cage. so you are
not canary any more. You are one OF
! u.s.
Cecilia felt like saying nonsense" her.
| self. but she thought 1t would be rude, 60
ly as she could. But the swallow was not
satisfied, and when he saw the poor ca
nary's attempts at nest building he Wal
still less SO.
the most useless bird I ever met You
say you can sing. Stay here and stint
the children to sleep while my wife and
go out and get moro mud and straws
| Only be careful, for there's q hawk in tn
neighoorhood; He won't hurt you, blu
he'd eat my babies In a minute
'Iipromise to take good care Of them.
said Cecilia
She was tired with her unaccustome,
work. but she perched on the edge Of tn
nest and began grooming lullaby to- tn
little swallows.
She sang and sang. but the little swal
lows wouldn't go to sleep.
At length she looked up and saw larg
hawk looking down at her from the edg
of the chimney.
I'm coming down there to eat up al
those little swallows he said, pleasantly
You're not going to do anything o
the kind" cried Cecilia II promised t
take care Of them. and I'm going to"'
What can you do to prevent me?'
sneered the hawk.
! 1T cen sine - yetorted tho valiant ga
nary. land If you don't go straight ava,
I'll sing SO loud that all the birds will
come up and peck you as full Of holes a
a sieve''
II like being peeked." said the hawk
II won't co.
At once the canary began to cling. sh,
sang so loudly and clearly that even tn.
boy in the house heard her.
There's our canary!' he cried, and h,
ran up on the roof to get her.
AS soon as the hawk saw him he flew
of in great fright, and when Mr.. and
Mrs. Swallow reached home few minute
later he was nothing but a black specl
In the distance.
The boy carried Cecilia carefully dowr