Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-09-25
CHAPTER III
Peggy Becomes Teacher

pLUE HERON made such a queer looking
- teacher that Peggy giggled. But the
effect on the Birds was entirely different.
They didn't seem to like his assumption Of
authority.
I'm going to be teacher because I'm the
smartest,' declared General Swallow.
I'm going to be cause | can scold the
loud"st." shrieked Blue Jay.
Il look the wisest.' hooted Judge Owl.
Il have the sweetest voice" warbled Mr..
Canary.
I'm the most demurs,' whispered Miss
Wren.
I'm the best looking" cried Bob Olink.
Il can rap loudest on the desk" screamed
Reddy WoOdpecker.
Il know the most about catching grass
hoppers," declared Bob White.
The school was in a perfect uproar. Every
Bird wanted to be teacher. Peggy saw only
one way Of settling it.
"Ill be teacher" she said.
Fine" chorused the Birds. princess
Peggy will be our teacher because she is the
smartest she can scold the loud.st: she Is
the wisest has the sweetest voice is the
most demure the prettiest can rap the loud
est and knows the most about catching
grasshcppers.'
you will all find seats" she ordered. The
Birds at once perched on the backs of the
desks.
What do you do in school besides sitting
around" asked Judge Owl.
why. you study and learn things"
explained Peggy.
How do you learn things" demanded
Blue Heron.
why, from books" answered Peggy.
THAT seems stupid t, me-" replied Blue
Heron. The best way to learn fishing is to
go out and fish"
But you don't study fishing in school,"
argued Peggy. You learn how TO read and
---;.z n~l In Gt1p,o apJ aIot If.tIptr a-I
geography and all that"
why do you learn all that truck 81" per
sisted Blue Heron.
80 you can earn a good living, and enjoy
the things of life, and make the world better,
and be somebody" answered Peggy.
II get a good living catching fish, and
enjoy eating EN-" said Blue Heron. "Tf
you don't teach fishing in school there's no
sense in my being here"
when are you going to call the class in
finding worms in the ground asked Mrs.
Robin.
'If school can teach me a way to catch
more mice and insects. I'm ready to learn"
hooted Judge Owl.
school doesn't teach such things" Peggy
had to- admit.
"Then school is silly and a big waste Of
time" declared Judge Owl. II don't blame
Billy Belgium for being glad to get out"
Peggy didn't know what to say. This
point OF view was strange to her. But Billy
BtlS lul, WIZ ilah ptel llSltIlll6 eagerly
now came Unexpectedly to her aid.
Say, I've learned a lot in Peggy's school.
I've learned that each person has to learn
that which will be most useful to him in
life, and the more things useful he learns
the better off he will be. To Blue Heron
and King Fisher the mast useful thing Is to
know how to fish; to Judge Owl, the most
useful thing is to know how to catch his
food. It's the same way with all you Birds
all you need to know is how to get what you
eat, to build your nests and to protect YOUR
selves from harm. If that's all I learned
wouldn't be any better than a wild man.
could. eat and live, but / couldn't have a
nice house l couldn't have good clothes; I
couldn't have an automobile | couldn't go
to shows l couldn't read ] couldn't have
all the things that make this life so wonder
full. I've learned my lesson right here. I'm
going to pitch in and work in school after
this 50 | can make as much as possible of
myself"
THAT sounds like sense" hooted Judge
owl. we birds don't have to learn much, |
because life isn't very big for us, but boys
and girls have to learn a whole lot because
life has SO much for them"
Peggy was going on with the school ses-
sion, when suddenly a queer noise came from
the attic above them, There was a sob, a
"Sh-h-h-" and the sound of some one
moving. Instantly the schoolroom became
silent as the Birds listened intently.
rs the school really haunted? whispered
Billy Belgium. -
Tomorroic the mystery of. the school
becomes deeDerJ