Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-10-08
WHAT'S the good OF being good II
you do not let the people know II?
roMMY's oRPHAN3

IA diidlu, ioHius ldlucI Uc6du
anxiously. that the house is too dark
for him"
ITS dark, and it's damp" said Tom.
my's mother a worried little pucker
between her brows."
well. there are too many trees
around the house, anyway. Suppose
We get rid of that huge pine that cuts
Off all the light from the northeast
corner" he suggested
Tommy's mother. sighed. Its
beautiful tree, But OF course il it's
a question OF the three or Tommy's
health, the tree must go. Something
has to he done"
Tommy was frail. delicate little
boy who never seemed to care about
playing ball, or "duckon therock," or
run sheep.run," or any other OF the
vigorous games over which the other
boys were enthusiastic The doctor
insisted that he be made to stay out
doors
The next morning active plans were
1root for cutting down the pine. Tom
my asked II he might go to see Clara,
the little girl across the street who
owned gorgeous laxative parrot.
Put on your jacket, dear, and you
had better wear your rubbers. It
looks AS il it were going to rain"
npclVnrnl hi, ,,nthor hntrI
Jacket and rubbers. II seemed to him
sometimes that he always wore them.
His mother brought them to him now
and helped him put them on; so he
had 10 wear them.
Outside OF the door he stopped curl
ously to watch the men with saws and
ropes. Suddenly a flash of brilliant
blue wings caught his eye. After mo.
ment or two there was another pair OF
wings, more gray than blue, and
great deal OF flutterins and cries OF
distress. from both birds
"Oh!" murmured Tommy, greatly
disturbed, scrambling to to his feet.
They're bluebrds. They must have
a nest in the pine"
"Wh2t, ch?' cried the big burly man
from his branch in the tree, where he
was trying to adjust a rope.
~ say there is nest in the tree"
Tommy raised his voice Justify The
man looked up through the branches
and for the first time noticed the
frightened birds. 81 reckon so, som
ny" he shouted back cheerily.
"Oh, please be very careful not to
hurt the nest" begged Tommy anx-
iously. But the big, burly mans an
swer wasn't very satisfactory. II
sounded like a grunt.
After no end OF shouting and rush
ing about the men were lowering the
tree very carefully. At last It was
down, and the poor stricken parent
bluebirds were watching helpessly
from the top OF nearby tree.
The men had warned Tommy so
many times not to come near the
tree, that IT was not until the big,
good natured man shouted to him.
Here's your birds. lad" that Tommy
ran to where he stood,
And sure enough. in the bushy
thickness OF one Of the top boughs
was a nest built so well that it had
held securely against the trees low.
erng and snugeled friehtenedly into
tho depths of the nest were four tiny
bldtbirds with the soft down begin.
ming to come fizzily all over them.
Very, very carefully Tommy lifted
the nest and put it into his hat, and
took nest and birds across the street
TO show Clara. Clara was standing
talking to the sancy parrot as he came
into the living room.
"ucllo" said Polly the parrot
"Where's your hat7'
"Clara. look breathed Tommy OK
citodlv. Just clancing at Polly. Clara
looked and gave n little gasp Of de.
light "Oh---oh, Tommy, where did
you ect them"
"They we're in the big pine It's
been cut down" explained Tommy
"They're hungry" declared Clara
touching one of the downy darlings
with n tender finger
They're hungry! they're hungry"
shrlled Polly from his perch. And in.