The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-01-19

to md HomeIy under the farthest
tree very much excited over a little
fiuttering something that he held be-
tween his paws-a young swallow
just learning to fly. that he had
caught in the grass FaIrella took IL
from him, smoothed It's rufflsd feath-
ers, placed the tiny, frightened thing
in a low tree out of harms reach. and
dragged the protesting puppy back to
the hammock This time he WAS WILL
ing to rest for A. while, Eairella hold
ing him fast with her fingers slipped
under the ribbon she had tied about
his neck.
I'm lie down Just few minutes
longer" che told him. then we must
20 TO supper. II Is getting too dark
10 stay here, but II Les SO nice
1t was comfortable. The puppy
snuggied his warm body against her
hand, the trees spread their green cur
talns overhead and dipped and sway
ed the hammock with a gentle swing
as soft as sleep. The birds were sing
ing their goodnight songs: a thous'
and little living things spoke from the
grass and leaves, each with n different
story to tell. Fairella was trying to
| listen 10 them all. when the katydids
! chinreci in with their everlasting argu'
| ment.
| u wish somebody would tell me
whether Katy did or didn't, Fai6
FalrellA I'm tired OF hearing frst
one thing and then the other
IT WILL whispered a soft voice.
FaireIla started. but there was ne
| one in sight, only big freely that
| rested on the edge OF the hammock,
trying his lantern TO see Il It burned
| brightly. "One-two--three," count
ed F'airella. az he flashed IT, why.
| It's just like the lighthouse in the
harbor."
''Of course" said the soft voice,
/ +'its s. light. isn't let and it's my
/ house" and she perceived that 1t was
really the freely that was speaking.
And. If that weren't astonishing
! enough, right before her eyes he
swung his light and sang;
| "Come. Fairella, came with me,
/ Come. oh. come, to the Magic Sea-
I wondrous wonders you VIII see,
! An YOU ask for comes to be.
i There are ship with golden sails,
J There are n1onstrous talking whales,
! Sirens with their silver tales.
| F'atryland that never fails.
Come, Safreia, come with me.
| We will go to the Magic Sea-
Come on" he said, I'll light the
way"
Away he few; but poor Tairella,
/ trying to follow with Homely tucked
under her arm. found her tired feet
no match for his wings.
| 20 Ffrefy, wait" she cried, Fl have
| no wings."
ASK the swallow answered the
freely. Sure enough there was the
little swallow that Fatrelia had res
| cued from Homely and placed upon
the bough. He was taking off his
wings, and, as she passed, he fixed
/ them to her shoulders,
eT'H lesd them 80 eyontH he, az
planned, for they might have been
broken II you hadn't saved me-"
Fairella felt the soft. gray feathers
being fastened to her shoulders, but
she could not understand a word. All
she heard was the swallows twItter
"Oh. thank you," she answered
but I wish I could hear what you
are singing"
Then the wonderful thing happen
ed, The little puppy under her arm
spoke Hear through my ears" he
said. 'I shouldn't have them big and
whole IL 1t hadn't been for you"
Then suddenly Fairella could hear
quite plainly what the swallow said
and what all the other birds were
saying, too. and 1t was SO interesting
that she wanted to stay and lister
forever. Here was robin giving al
kinds of good advice and informa
ton about the weather,>there was q
biuebird singing a new, lullaby. while
over in the cornfeld crow caucus
was going on.
Il wish could stop to hear what
the crows are saying" she thought
Father would be so interested, fol
he's always going to caucuses." Blu
the freely few straight along, ant
she had to go pretty steadily to keer
up with him. But. as they few, sh.
saw four beautiful swans overhead
and. oh. Joy and rapture! she coult
understand the story of his adven
lures that the youngest and mos
beautiful swan was telling his thre.
compantons--how he had once lived
in farmyard where the turkey COB
hled at him, and the ducks and chill
dren beat him. and the poultry CIR
kicked him with her foot because
he was big and awkward, and no
like the other~birds: how he hat
flown away with the wild ducks. art
had been abused by Tom Cat ant
Hen. and caught half frozen In tn.
cruel winter Ice
/. * q . T. Vi d q a Z -sst - "A