The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1916-03-27
Bedtime Stories
For Little Folks
Why the peiioans Have Funny aills.

Once upon time hundreds of thou
sands of years ago, there was no such
bird as the odd-looking pelican, which
can be seen any day al the zoo. The
great great grandfather of the pelican
about a million years ago was a small
yellow bird that lived in a tree anG
ate worms instead of fish.
This was in the days OF the witches.
And one OF the ugliest Old ones that
ever lived was the Witch of the Windy
Void. whose home was Il hollow tree
| over dark lake in the midst OF 81
forest of signing pines. When The
wind blew. the trees would sway and
mourn so that The people thought the
witch was crying. and as all were
afraid of her, no one ever came near
her tree.
With this witch lived pretty bird
and q black cat. The cat and the
witch and the bird got on nicely to-
gether for long time Then the bird
began TO steal things from the old
woman. First it was a bit OF meat.
then an apple and even her eyeglasses.
So the witch was greatly worried.
She did not like to think either of her
pets would act so
II will tell you who is stealing your
things, mother WITCH" said the bird
one day. at is the cat. have seen
her do it myself"
But the witch said she could not be
lieve that of her pet. for she and Jet
were the best Of friends
IF you don't believe me-" returned
The bird, "set a trap and see what you
will catch. Put the trap in the cup
board and in it bit of cheese, and
you will catch her"
So the witch made trap and set it
in the cupboard and baited it with the
cheese. When the bird saw this he ran
TO The cat and told her that the old
witch had put 4 lot of fine cheese for
her in the cupboard.
But the cat had heard the bird talk
ing TO the witch. So she got fat
worm and took it with her. Then with
a stick she pulled the cheese out of
the trap and pm III The worm in It's
place.
"Oh, birdie | got such Il fine cheese
bit out of the cupboard. tie cat said
to the bird There was kind OF
trap there, but threw it~away Bet
ter hurry-the worm might Gel out of
sight
So while the cat frisked away laugh
ing the bad bird slipped into The house
opened the cupboard slyly and put in
its head to peek at the worm. But as
soon as it gGt its head in, the trap
fell, and ;here was the bird fast
prisoner.
The old witch heard the noise and
came running. and so did he smart
cat. When she opened The door there
was the yellow bird caught right in
the trap that had been set for the cat.
"Ah. Ah." laughed the witch. $50
you my pretty bird, are the thief, and
you tried to blame it Oh the cat, You
are cruel, false friend. | am glad
the cat had sense enough to fool you
in return for your trick.
SO the witch took the bird and
walked down by the water, and there
in the stream they saw lots of fish
swimming by.
Il have been thinking how to pun
ish you my yellow bird" sighed the
witch, sitting down on a stump by the
side of the lake And | think | have
fine idea at last YOu stole from
me and told falsehood on the cat.
Now | am going to turn you into a big
ugly. awkward bird that wades into
water. Your bill shall be long and a
bag hang down from ii so all can see
what you get and you can steal no
more"
Then, as the cat loves fish" contin.
ued the witch. ut will he your duty to
wade in the water and get the cats
dinner of fresh fish every day. After
you have done that you will have only i
fish to eat for yourself"
So then and there the Witch of the |
Windy Void cast her spells and wove |
her magic charms over the bird. 1t !
swelled and grew and changed to |
what had been a pretty, dainty thing |
like canary. stood up in the mud |
with hideous long, legs Il clumsy body. |
and great bill from which hung a |
big bag. And at the command of the |
witch ii began TO fish.
So this is the way that a million |
years ago a tiny bird was turned into |
a pelican to punish it for stealing.