The labor standard., 1919-05-15
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"Far south, south of the United States during the winter" said Daddy, there is a bird known as the Scissor Tailed Flycatcher."
 "We haven't heard of a new bird or a new animal in ever so long," said Nancy. "Do tell us about this one, Daddy"
 "Yes, do," urged Nick. "He Is known by such a name be- cause he has very long tail which is very much the shape of pair of scis- sors. In fact his tail is like two tails which open and shut as one would open and close pair of scissors. "He is very graceful and beautiful and he loves the air and not the ground. He very seldom cares about coming to the ground, for he thinks that the ground is for creatures who walk and the air for creatures who fly and that it is silly to do both."
 "He wouldn't believe 1t sensible to be man and ride in an airplane, chr asked Nick.
 "I don't suppose he would" said Daddy. "Well, to continue about his ways and habits and looks. He loves the woods and the best meals, he thinks, are meals of insects. He goes off flying for them between meals just as ladies go marketing.
 Instead of saying to a shopkeeper, How much is that piece of meatT he says, will catch you, Miss Insect, and you'll be my dinner, you will"
 "He opens and closes his scissor like tail when he does his marketing just as ladies would open and close their purses after they had bought something.
 "His home is very large nest, and 1t is made of anything at all-grass and bits of cloth and strings and bits of twigs He doesn't care whether his nest is in a big tree or little tree or whether 1t is high, high above the ground or just little above the ground. In fact, he is very good natured.
 "Mrs. Scissor-Tailed F1ycatcher has happy time with such a pleasant mate and she is pleasant herself which makes them both happy.
 "The event of her life is matching time. When she Is sitting on four whitish brown eggs which will soon be little scissor-tailed fycatchers she is as happy as a bird can be, and that is pretty happy, as you can imagine.
 "I am going to tell you now about MT. Scissor-Tailed Flycatcher and his talk to an insect.
 "Little insect said MT. Scissor Tailed Flycatcher, am very well named. am called flycatcher and I catch flies. But I. don't only catch flies. catch insects as we'll The lit tie insect moved wing but 1t was cap tured by MT. Flycatcher and couldn't do anything.
 "sI wouldn't admire myself If could only catch flies said MT. Flycatcher, any more than would admire chill dren who learned how to read but not to write. So I catch insects too.' "T don't need to be told that the insect whispered.
 "'very well,' said the Flycatcher, I will take up another subject. only told you in case you didn't know. But 1t is nice to go on to another lesson. Children go on from reading and writ ing to arithmetic and then on to some 1 thing known as algebra
 "'You're very much interested in children said the insect.
 "'Yes,' said the Flycatcher, T am. Children enjoy good things to eat. That Is sensible of them.'
 "The insect shivered again. 1t knew that soon, soon it would be eaten.
 "T have a secret to tell you next said the Flycatcher. I don't go on the ground as it would be very uncomfort- able for me. try 1t once in while but my long tail makes it hard for me to get along.
 "T am at my best when flying. Then my tail spreads out and closes.
 "sAnd another thing, little insect, live here in the winters because it is cold further north, but even in the summers I live far. far South, for like heat and not mere warmth.
 "Tn a little while now I will be moving to my summer home-but it will be few months still and in the meantime I will enjoy the scenery around these parts-and the insects as we'll.
 "'Ah, I'm a wise bird. I didn't eat you when had had enough though still could eat more. waited until I had worked up an appetite once more. have had a good talk. Now am hungry. Now will enjoy dish of afternoon insect, though won't bother whether 1t is afternoon or not-for believe, truly, 1t Is still morning. But I will enjoy you, little insect
 "And the insect heard no more for he had been swallowed by the Fly catcher"