Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-08-17

Doggy held her ears tight but even so CHI.
L could hear the awful roaring clamor grow
ing louder and louder. 1t seemed 40 thor,,
1t would never stop.
Just when she felt she could stand II ~,
longer. the shaking of the steepla bepan IN
grow less violent Gradually the no1,nding
clangor subsided. After a while she found she
could take her hands from her ears The air
was still filled with loud musical h,nn,ing
put the noise was no longer unpleasautlv
deafening.
Peggy turned her scared face toward Ri1v
Belgium. ''
Has something awful happened?" she
shouted shrilly. making her voice heard above
the hum
only the church bell ringing !" he shouted
back. grinning broadly. Peggy felt a bit
foolish. for she thought there must have been
something like an earthquake to cause all
that commotion. But then she had never
been near a big bell when 1t roared out its
song. And here she had been suspended
right above it with the sounding board just
over her head
Billy Belgium was looking over the edge Of
the beam.
Look. Look !" he cried excitedly.
Nerving herself for thrill. Peggy
cautiously peered down.
There hung the eight Rats swaying at the
ends of the strings, But they were not
aging from any motion Of their own They
dangled still and lifeess
Dead" shouted Billy Belgium. "rhey
hung where the bell hit them as it swung
back and forth, 1t has battered the life out
of them"
''Coo-coo. Coo-coo.. cried the Pigeons
but to Peggy the "coo-coo"' appeared to be
turned into a real American hurrah!"
They are dead-eNery one Of them" de-
clared Blue Peter, who tuttered down to
investigate.
"Coo-coo. Coo-coo" cried the Pigeons
again. and then there was rollicking rejoicing
as fathers and mothers cooed over the baby
Pigeons which had so narrowly escaped an
awful fate.
Billy Belgium cut down the dangliv : Rats
Then. at his direction. the Pigeons t6 ok hold
Of the strings and dragged the Rats outside,
letting them fall far below to the ground.
Don't let them fall on the sidewalk" he
cautioned. 'or you might scare some girl
lady into fits
II guess any boy or man would be scared
/, into fits too, if he had dead Rat drop on
him out Of the sky" laughed Peggy.
I'VE don't know how to thank you for
saving our homes and our families" said
Airy Pouter to Billy and Peggy.
We've done with the destroying Rats Just
what the American soldiers doing with
the destroying-IIuns over in Europe" said
Billy Belgium. I'VE fought them because we
had to fight them to save innocent lives and
to secure undisturbed peace"
"Only the Huns worse than Rats
added Blue Peter. "If the Germans should
brealS through the brave armies of the Allies
in Europe and should come over here, they
would destroy your babies. your nests your
steeples. even the fields and the orchards that
feed you That Is what they have done to
Belgium and France. That is what they
would do to America If they had a chance
That is why even the peaceful Pigeons are
fighting them. VIII you join our forces?'
Bronze Beauty, Homer Pigeon and Carrie
Pigeon promptly fell into line with Blue
Peter. Then to Peggy's delighted astonsh-
ment Airy Pouter stepped forward and Joined
them.
I'm cured" he said with a determined
CLINT in his eyes. Il know now what a
righteous war means. From this day forth
I'm a fighting pacifst. I'll show you that
love real peace enough TO battle for 1t. and If
need be. to die for it."
"Coo-coo! Coo-coo" approved the other
Steeple Pigeons and there stepped into line
all the strong young Pigeons Wen be-
fighting pacifists until the world has won real
peaceH' -
outside. The roof of the church was covered
with Pigeons
"Here are our country Pigeons come to
join you. Blue Peter" cried Billy Belgium.
II knew the Birds of America would prove
themselves worthy of their country" an
swered Blue Peter, his eyes glowing with JOY
"Come! We will start now! Within a week
we will be in our training camp behind the
armies. a.., .,,., ,,.,-
and Homer Pigeon to Peggy and Billy More
quickly than she had come Peggy found her
self back on her porch and once more her
usual size. Above her there was loud
eonnine of wings Looking up, she saw the
pigeons in full flight to the east.
"Good-by and good fortune" !" she cried.
waving at them an American flag that draped
the porch.
"Coo-coo! Wen do our duty" came the
answer. For peace we fight! For peace
For peace
(Peggy IN her nert ddreRture has
jolly aud eIcitiag time at the Birds Cor
niDdll