Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-15
Newcomer in the Old
Orchard.

Where he came from no one knew. The
Old Orchard simply awoke one morning
to find him there. He was bustling about
quite as if he intended to stay. He wasn't
the least bit bashful. as most newcomers
to the Old Orchard were. In fact. he
acted for all the world as if he always
had lived there. was one of the old resi-
dents. He wasn't very big. Indeed, he
was small compared with some of the
other folks who live in the Old Orchard.
and he wasn't at all handsome. But 1t
was very clear to all that he cared moth
ing about how he looked and that his
! small size didn't trouble him the least
little bit.
OF course, everybody hurried to look
him over as soon as it was known that
he had arrived. You know, 1t is always
that way whenever a stranger comes to
any neighhorhood, and usually it is
very trying experience for the stranger.
But 1t didn't seem to be for this one.
He hustled around just as IL there was
no one about, and if he saw all the
sharp eyes watching him, as. OF course,
he did. he made no sign. He flew from
fully with bis sharp eyes and in the most
businesslike way. He paid particular at
tention to every hole in them. Now.
some of these holes were deserted houses
ILtu SOIuc were occupied LOT inc SuiIlIucI.
but it seemed to make no difference to
him. He poked his head in at the door
ways of the houses where people were
living quite as boldly as of houses that
were empty and didn't even say Beg
pardon" or Excuse me-"
All the time he did great deal of
talking to himself and his voice was not
at all pleasant. Not once did he sing or
even try to sing. The little people who
had lived in the Old Orchard for so long
Jyt ma
If he happened to meet one of them he
just hustled right past as if he didn't
see them at all. He didn't SO much as
nod his head in greeting. OF course. this
else who had come to the Old Orchard
had acted that way. 1t was very clear
to every one that he didn't care whether
he made friends with them or not. He
chard belonged to him and as if he in
tended to do just as he pleased.
OF course, all those who were living in
the Old Orchard forgot their own affairs
ing over among themselves his strange
ways.
Il don't like his looks" said Welcome
Robin. He doesn't look to me as if he
me like foreigner You know q for
eigner is somebody from n distant
country.
He certainly is very untidy and his
voice ISL at all pleasant, Sai0 gentle
Winsome Bluebird in his soft voice. Blu,
perhaps he is much nicer than ne ap-
pears. You know. you cannot always
tell what people really are by the way
they dress. If he is going to make his
home here j hope he will prove to be
nicer than he appears
Hes got the worst manners I ever
have seem" sputtered Jenny Wren
Why. he actually tried to poke his head
in at my door this morning and then got
into a great rage because 1t was too
small! He acted just as if he had q
perfect right to come into my house
without SO much as an invitation
He did the same thing at my house,
only my door was big enough for him
to put his head in. and he seemed to
get terribly angry because 1 was living
there. l wonder who he is anyway, and
where he comes FROM" said Skinner the
Swallow.
I'm going to find out replied Jenny
Wren "a the most decided way. And
beeaus, Jenny Wren believes in doing
things omptly she flew over to the old
apple TT. in the far corner. where the
stranger was inspecting an old home of
Drummer the Woodpecker. If any one
could make the stranger talk it was
Jenny Wren.