The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-09-09
SAMMY SPARROW.

Il m ever so sorry! declared Sam
my Sparrow.
Little. good that does, Sammy
Sparrow, after you've eaten up all the
treat" snapped Sallie Sparrow.
why didn't you call me?"
She eyed her forgetful husband in
severe silence.
II forgot" stammered Sammy.
"Humph;" said Sallie. "Humph!"
And that is all she did say. But she
did not need to say any more, for
Sammy knew perfectly well what she
was thinking. He knew she was
thinking that he was a very selfish
mate. He knew that she must be
thinking how terribly tired she was
of hearing him say, I'm ever so
sorry" when it was too late to do any
good.
He had said it when he had let her
build the nest almost entirely alone;
and he had said it after staying away
visiting so long, when their first nest
full of eggs was Matching, that she
had been obliged to leave the nest
to get something to eat, and the eggs
had chilled so that they never hatch
ed, and they had to start all over
again; and he had said it when he
brought the wrong sort of caterpillar
for little Sissy Sparrow, and it had
choked her.
No wonder that Sallie looked at
him sadly and sternly!
But it made Sammy nervous; and
he flew off to the Bartlett pear tree
and got a. nice bug for Sonny Spar.
row. .
He looked so handsome as he came
back and gave the bug to Sonny that
Sallies heart softened.
Still, must teach him lesson,
she said to herself But how shall
| do it? How shall l do it?"
Suddenly she hoped right up and
down on the twig where she was
perching, to rest minute.
That's just what I'll do" she ex
claimed gleefully.
Sammy had gone to look for an
| other bug for Sonny, so he did not
| see her queer actions. At once she
went to work hustling as hard as ever
she could for bugs and worms.
Back and forth, back and forth, she
flew, bringing the very best ones to
be found. Finally, Sonny Sparrow
and Susie Sparrow, and Sallie, Jr.
could not hold a single other bug OF
| worm.
"There!" she said to herself. 81
guess that will last them!"
And away she flew.
At first, Sammy did not think il
| queer for he thought she was going
to some special place to find partic
ularly nice dainty for the children's
| dessert. But when it grew dark, he
became uneasy.
"Sallie! Sallie!" he called. But nc
"Sallie! Sallie; my dear!" But nc
Sallie appeared.
Finally he crept onto the nest, for
the sun had set, and the dew had be-
gun to fall, and the children were cry
ing with cold.
All through the long night he sat
there, calling every little while, but
not daring to leave the children.
Oh, how worried he was! And how
tired! He was not used to covering
the children long at a time; and it
cramped his legs dreadfully, and his
wings felt so stiff that he feared they
would never be of any use again.
Just before sunrise, soft little
breeze came through the trees-and
with it came Sallie!
"Oh, you are alive, my dear! How
glad l ami" cried Sammy. Where
have you been?"
oh" replied Sallie, carelessly, 81
went out to call on my old chum
Samantha Sparrow, and she insisted
l should stay all night. l had such q
good time!"
Sammy stiffened up.
Il have been very anxious, Mrs
Sparrow! 1t was most thoughtless OF
you!"
I'm ever so sorry" said Sallie
softly, but cycling Sammy from the
corner of her eye.
'I-oh-er-'' stammered Sammy
Its all right, Sallie. Glad you had q
nice time"
Thank you!" said Sallie, sweetly.
And there wasn't another word said
about it. They started off together, te
get the family breakfast.