Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-13

Just have a good time she said
Dance to the music and do any kind
Of stunts you al think Of"
you can depend on us, Princess
Peggy" chorused the birds.
Peggy quickly arranged her group
ing. Ben and Bill sat on the floor
while the birds gathered In the a
ground listening to the music of the
mouth organ and ACCORDION. Judge
Owl and Blu Heron were close to
the footlights on either side Of the
stage. N 4.
We're ready" whispered Peggy to
the recreation director. He. stepped
in front Of the curtain to explain the
change in the bill.
you have come to see an animal
circus" he said, but the circus was
wrecked and so Princess Peggy and
her birds will take its place"
This announcement was greeted
groans. The soldiers didn't like it Q
bit to be told after waiting all this
time that they were not going to see
the show they expected. AS Peggy
heard the groans her heart sank. But
she was too brave to be scared out.
Stand by me, my birds" she whis-
pered, and We'll give them a show
that will surprise them" .
Up went the curtain. Peggy saw
a blur of faces. She bowed and turned
to her birds. But the birds were
gone. AS the curtain had risen they
had risen too. They had been 30
startled at the sight of the audience
that they had done just what they
would have done in their Forest
quickly darted out of sight. And Ben
and Bill had stage fright. They
couldn't play a note.
There was al awful silence for a
moment. Then Peggy heard a loud
| guffaw from the drummer's seat I'M
the orchestra. 1t was Sambo, the
negro she had chased when she was
driving the auto.
What a bum show" he howled i'm
politely. Peggy saw everything going
to smash. Her plans to give the SOL
diers a laugh seemed all spoiled.
But there same a queer hero to the
rescue. 1t was BLU Heron, one bird
who hadn't flown away. He mad stood
on n leg, looking blinkingly out
owe the audience. never moving. Now
he stalked to the footlights. picked
up a padded drumstick and solemnly
thumped Same on the head.
It Was SO odd md Sambo was so
astonished, the soldiers let out a roar
Of laughter. That broke the ice. Ben
started playing his mouth organ | X
mad and Bill Joined in with the ac-
cordeon. Down from their hiding
places fluttered the birds, making Q
picture that brought quick applause
from the soldiers.
Ben and Bill started a patriotic med.
ley, opening with Maryland, My
Maryland" Clear bird trill took up
the air-Orioles, Mocking Birds, warb.
lers formed a wonderful choir in per-
feet accord with mouth organ and
ACCORDION. The strain changed to
Dixie" n the Mocking Birds trilled
the melody with a wild fervor that
brought the soldier boys shouting to
their feet. Again the air changed. this
time to my Country IT'S of Thee"
and every bird that had a voice raised
it joyfully in the anthem, some carry.
ing the air, some introducing quaint
variations. some just adding their bit
to the inspiring volume of sound.
Their enthusiasm spread to the audi.
ence. As M man, the soldiers
poured forth a mighty chorus of patri.
otto praise, In which the shrill bird
trills blended with fantastic beauty.
And as the mighty wave Of sound
died away the soldiers cheered and
cheered and cheered. Peggy knew
that her show was n winner.
Tomorrow 1t uiH be told hop the
shoD develops a lot Of Astonishing
y funJ