Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1916-11-30

as we shall have i'm the forest
when ALL the animals shall join in
the boot and the chorus
So limitations We've sert far and
wide requesting the animals and
birds to at.tsnd convention in the
deepest forest glade
The invitations were accepted and
at dawn ON the day appointed, anf
mails began to arrive.
At the appointed time the con-
vent'on Was called to order. Sew
eral animals made speeches, and all
agreed that a musical education
would he of great benefit to them
selves and to the country.
But where" demanded the
squirrels, where are the birds?"
Even the owl had not arrived. "A
mother hour passed, yet not bird
appeared.
LET us send messengers, sug-
gested the rabbit. 81, for one, will
CO.,
And l and my family offered
the deer.
Accordingly messengers were sent
to urge the birds to hurry as the
convention was waiting.
When the messengers returned
they said; The birds have not
yet finished their breakfast and
them children are crying for food.
They are coming though, and are
singing between bites, to keep in
practice.
Patiently the animals waited UNI
til an hour after dinner, and not a
bird had arrived at the convention.
Again messengers were sent to
learn why they did not come.
The birds have not yet finishe
their dimner," said the messen gers
on their return, land their children
are Still crying for food. The cat
birds are eating grasshoppers thir-
tyl at time, one after the other,
the orioles are eating caterpillar
by the quart and the blackbirds
are eating worms in the cornfield.
1t is the same sorry everywhere,
eat, eat, eat; e egy bird in the
country eating every minute, and
still they are hungry and their ba-
bies are crying for food
But they will come when they
are through eating, ventured a
messenger who had not yet spoken.
The robin promised"
Yes" chimed in another mes
senger, "but with the birds it is
always mealtime. Dinner time l.
until supper time, and it is supper
time until the day birds go to
bed and the night birds get up for
supper. No use to expect the
whip-poor- wills, nor the night.
| hawks, nor the owls if we wait uIn.
til they are through eating"
1t proved true. None of the
hungry birds were able to attend
the convention.
AIT dusk the owl came with an a.
pology, first explaining that he
was TOO hungry to stay
Fhends," said he, the birds are
sorry they could not be with you,
libut they serve our country first.
Not only are the birds hungry, but
our government requires our SER
vices Birds cannot attend the con
, vention while insects of every
! description are duining the farmers
crops. Better the animals should
never learn to sing than that the
peope of the nation should starve
Our country first. Three cheer.
! for the red, white and blue
But if the convention will wal,
until the crops are saved and the
nestlings are Old enough to take
care of themselves, then the birds
| Will teach you TO sing. l myself
| will give hooting lessons, and the
other birds will gladly"
But the convention broke up a,nd
the animals went to their homes
without waiting for him to finish.
AS for the donkey, although the
| bobolink has never had time te
give him music lessons, because he
is busy eating from morning unit
night, the donkey still tries tt
sing.
A QUEER CHICKEN.
\ Max walked I'm ,ery early Christ