The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-05-11


exactly good to look upon
But the silly creature, Donald,
couldn't see it that way at all. He
wept and wept and begged and beg
ged mo to do something to make him
beautiful. Though 1 knew he was
very foolish, really couldn't help
feeling a little bit sorry for him. So,
finally, I agreed to change everything
about him, just as he wished, if he
would agree to take the consequences
and fight his own battles with the
enemies he was bound to have once
he became conspicuous. He agreed
instantly.
First, Mr.. Old Man of the Forest,
he said, please give me a gorgeous
tall of feathers, green and purple
and-and resplendent-and make It
stick straight up in the air and-and
bigger than the tail of any other
bird in the whole jungle!'
so / waved my magic wand and
behold-he had a tail just like the
one you see on this peacock before
you, Donald. And then, one by one,
he asked for iridescent, greenish- blue
feathers on his body, instead of the
fuzz he had there, and for a small
head with that pretty top-knot like
all peacocks now have and-well, Just
then he happened to catch sight of
himself in a stream and hoped about
for joy and puffed out his chest and
arched his long neck. On, Donald
he was so vain and proud of him
self
Now, Mr.. Old Man, he said, give
me voice different from that of any
! other bird SO can call out and every
one Will simply have to look to see
where it comes from; and then they
will all see what a beautiful creature
| ami
II looked at him a moment, Donald
in pity; but I had promised to give
him what he asked for. so I waved
my wand again and he straightway
had that same peculiar cry that pea
cocks today have. Then, with his
tail all spread out like fan and his
vain head held high in the air, he
strutted off, so proud of himself that
he even forgot to thank me.
He had gone but a short distance,
when he met Mr., Parrot.
"'Oh, o-hov cried the parrot, look
who's here! Why, it's that old ugly
peacock that And Mr.. Parrot
chortled and laughed and cried out
for all the other birds to come and
see. They came-fying and running.
| Peacock strutted around before
them, as proud as-well, as proud as
peacock! And every now and then
he gave his shrill cry and glanced at
them haughtily.
Suddenly, Mr.. Parrot cried, Hey,
look at his feet! Look at his feet
they're the same old ugly feet! Hah
| Hahn
"The assembled birds looked and
instantly set up such howl Of deris-
ion as was never before heard in that
jungle.
Peacock stopped in the midst of
his lordly stride and looked down.
Yes, there they were-the same ugly
scaly, hideous old feet he had had
before! He had forgotten to ask for
new ones. His tail dropped and folded
up until all the pretty ocelli, or eye
like spots, were hidden; his proud
neck lost its naughty arch and he
/ cried--real peacock tears! He was
so ashamed and so taken back! And,
goodness, how the other birds did
/ make fun of him,
And to this day, Donald, when
ever a peacock looks down at his feet
his tail closes up and he looks all
wilted and humble. Watch-the pea
cook within the enclosure is looking
| down now--and his"
"Donald! You Donald. Get up off
that damp ground right away" 1t
wasn't the voice of the Old Man of
| the Forest, either. 1t was Nurse and
she was coming a-running toward him.