Omaha daily bee., 1918-07-23


"They prove you're a real person"
Whats the matter with your
muller" asked Peggy, changing the
subject, for, like o modest little girl,
she didn't like to talk about herself.
:"Oh, Balky Sam is all the time sit
ting down to rest" exclaimed Bill.
"And he always does it just when we
are in hurry. He's the"
Peggy interrupted quickly. Shed
heard that soldiers sometimes used
strong language when arguing with
their mules. She didn't want Bill to
say anything he shouldn't.
Remember there is a lady pres
ent," she warned him. "Thc Giant of
the Woods says the best way to keep
from swearing is to fill your mouth so
full Of big words there isn't any room
for swears."
Thank you, Miss Good Fairy" an
swered Bill. Hereafter I'll just call
him a cantankerous cudgermudgeon
and let it 60 at that"
Balky Sam looked around at Peggy
and gave her sly wink. 1t was so
funny she had to giggle.
Seems as though we are always
meeting you when we need help" said
Ben to Peggy.
"Are you in troubled"
"Not exactly trouble" answered
Ben. "It's just a matter of disap-
pointing a lot of the soldier boys who
are about to start to France. We
wanted to send them off with laugh
and now we can't do it."
How were you going to make them
laugh?" asked Peggy, bit puzzled.
"The recreation director had en-
gagged an animal circus to come and
amuse EN-" explained Ben. you
know what / mean--one OF those
vaudeville shows with ponies, dogs,
monkeys and the like. Bill and l
were sent to town with the mule team
to get the baggage. AT the depot we
found that the train carrying the cir
Gus had been wrecked, smashing up
the outfit so it will be week before
it will be ready to show here. BY
that time thousands of the boys will
be on the way to France"
isn't that pityp exclaimed Peg.
gy. II wish there were something
could do"
"Princess Peggy, aren't you coming
back to us?" chorused the birds
Peggy looked up. There they were
perched on the roof of the house
looking anxiously down.
"What a funny looking lot OF
birds" laughed Bill. Have you a
menagere Of your own, Miss Good
Fairy?" ~
That question gave Peggy an idea
The birds certainly did look comieal
particularly Blue Heron, with hi:
long legs, and Judge Owl, solemnly
blinking down at her. Why couldn't
they give a show? They knew more
than any birds she had ever seen or
| the stage. And in making the de.
parting soldiers laugh they would be
doing a service for Uncle. Sam. =
my BIRDS" she cried, stretching
up her arms to them, "how would
you like to be in a show?" -.
"No, thank you, we don't want to
be prisoners!" chorused the birds. :.
II don't mean that way" Peggy
quickly reassured them. II mean give
show of your own free will for the
soldiers. 1t will be lots of fun"
Fun! That's what we are here
for" hooted Judge Owl.
Fun Is the spice of life
It drives out pain and strife
1t cuts care like a knife
And makes men brave and blithe."
"Will you be in it, Princess Peg
| gy?" asked General Swallow.
eyes, III be your trainer and tell
you what to do" promised Peggy en-
Enthusiastically.
"Then we'll all be in your show"
chorused the birds.
Ben and Bill had been watching
Peggy and the birds with keen in
terest. They didn't know what was
being said, but they did know that
Peggy was able to talk to the birds
and it was amusing to see the way
| they answered.
"My birds will take the place OF
your animal circus" Peggy told the
soldiers.
"Fmel" cried Bill. 81 felt in my
bones that you would come to the
rescue. Miss Good Fairy
"Where's your baggage" added
Ben. We'll load it aboard and hike
for the cap in hurry. It's near
time to begin" .
Peggy thought rapidly. She would
need costumes for the birds and some
apparatus on which they could per-
form. Her dolls trunk would supply
the costumes and she had toys that
would serve as apparatus. She rar
quickly into the house and gathered
up the toys and the trunk. For hei
own stage costume she selected q
pretty tinseled frock she had worr
at fancy dress dancing party.
Ben and Bill laughed at her bag
gage, but loaded it on the big army
wagon, where it seemed almost lost
They invited the Birds to ride, but al
declined except Judge Owl and Blue
Heron, for whom flying was not al
fun.
Soon they were ready to start. Bu
there was Balky Sam, still sitting ii
the middle of the street as comfort
able as you please, and not showing
a sign Of moving.
well, what do you think of tina
cantankerous cudgermudgeon" ex
claimed Bill.
Maybe I can start him." volun
teered Peggy. She jumped off tn
wagon, ran to the backyard wher'
there was a particularly nice patel
of long grass, and pulled two bi,
handfuls. She gave one handful I,
Balky Sans mate, who started to ca