The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-11-17

SOL / &
! In town of the ancient kingdom
of CASTLE there lived, in former ages,
youth called Bartolo, who tried to
exc out a living by making cages
! for birds. and taking them round to
sell at the neighboring villages. But
! his trade was a poor one, and he
Judged himself In luck IL he sold
one cage In the day, and as may be
supposed, he knew what sorrow and
priyation we're.
One day as he was proceeding to
village he heard sounds Of reyelry,
| the buzz OF many people, and the
strains OF q band OF music. This
merrymaking was a procession OF
children dressed In white, carrying
in their midst beautiful child
crowned with roses, in a chariot COW
cred with white satin, and orna-
mented with acacia and myrtle. This
procession was In honor OF Maya,
the personification of Spring, and
took place to announce the entry of
spring. In front OF the little chariot
some children danced, and held In
their hands tin platters for contri-
buttons; and. as may he imagined,
all, or nearly all, the spectators
dropped their coins into them.
Bartolo moved away in despond-
ing mood, saying to himself as he
walked on: lis this the Justice of
the world? There they are, flinging
their money into these platters just
because these children come in pro-
cession to announce to them that 1t
10 No M nf rytY haxy
could not know 1t by looking at an
almanac. They barter and grind me
down to the lowest price for my
cages, even when / chance to sell
one"
Full of these bitter thoughts he
walked on sadly, for the voices OF
two importunate enemies were max
ling themselves heard within him
these were hunger and thirst: the
one elamored for food and the other
for drink. Bartolo had nothing in
his wallet but his clasp knife, and
had had nought for his breakfast
but hopes, aud these made him sharp
and active.
He had reached a plantation when
he perceived a well-dressed indiyid-
ual coming toward him. Pressed by
hunger Bartolo, taking his cap Off
respectfully. approached and said:
Excuse me. sir, but could you kind
" give me a tribe? promise I will
return 1t as soon as / earn some
money,
Don't you think that 1t il a
shameful thing for man like you,
young and with good, healthy ap-
pearance, to be demanding charity
of people? Does 1t not strike you
that you have duty to earn your
living by working at your trader
Eyes, sir, certainly, but my trade
does not fulfill its own duty. Most
people like to see the birds flying
about free rather than In cages, and.
therefore, day by day / find myself
poorer than before"
At first the stranger doubted what
he heard, but the bird-cage maker
gave him SO detailed an account Of
his work and the small profits he
derived, that he became interested
and sympathized with his Ill fortune.
Bartolo was man who always knew
how to excite great interest in HIM
self.
Come, come, the stranger said,
smiling, Il will do something for
you. As ] cannt find customers for
your cages, Will afford you a pow
erful means by which you shall never
more be In want" VA
He then blew a whistle, and Bar
tolo saw flying before him bird
blue as the sky. which came and
perched on one of his cages.
See here added the stranger.
what will compensate for ell your
past misery. From this day forward
you have only to formulate wish
and say slowly and distinctly, 'Bluest
OF blue birds, do you duty and your
wish will be granted to you"
By my faith!" cried the bird-cage
maker, but ! will try 1t at once.
For the last twenty years / have
wished to kill hunger: 'Bfuest OF
blue birds. do your duty""
Scarcely were the words out of
his mouth than he saw suddenly