The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1919-11-06
INCONSISTENCIES
FAIRY TALE 81
Il. ~. r. l. 49, Q>sa a. HVH
FOUR wooppEckeR COUSINS.
6y nary Grahagw y !. 3! 6onns! s,n.s!

self In n tree In the bog woods. Mrs.
Woodpecker had found an old hole for
herself. for she knew perfectly well
that during the autumn and winter
Mr.. Hairy Woodpecker didn't care
much about her.
He wore q handsome suit of black
and white and very beautiful collar
OF red. Mrs. Hairy Woodpecker's
dress was more simple. She didn't
wear red. and there was more brown
In her feathers.
"Why. there's my cousin. Mr.. Red
Headed Woodpecker. with his wife,"
said Mr.. Hairy woodpecker.
Hello, drum. drum; hello" said Mr..
Red-Headcd Woodpecker
Hello" said Mr.. Hairy woodpeck-
er. "what are you two doing. may
askT
They looked at each other and then
at Mr.. Hairy Woodpecker and they
smiled such beautiful woodpeckcr
smiles as though to say that they would
gladly tell what they were doing. and
that Mr.. Hairy woodpecker had the
perfect right to ask.
The Red-Headed Woodpeckers were
both handsomely dressed aud they
wore u good deal of red. which color
they were very fond OF, for their head.
neck and throat were of gay and dash
Ing crimson.
"We're going to find an old tree"
said Mr.. Red-Headed Woodpecker.
"and then we're going to take turns
following II out. When Mrs. Wood
pecker works I'll have nice meal OF
grubs and bugs and when she IL
through work then she'll have meal
and n rest"
"we'n save some nuts. too, for the
hard. cold days are coming" said Mrs.
Woodpecker.
"Ha. ha." laughed Mr.. Red-Hcaded
woodpecker, ''isn't she the fine little
wife now. Always thinking OF the fu-
ture? Always planning TO save some
thing so we won't ever starveY'
"It will be all right unless the squir-
rels find out where we live" she said.
Mrs. Hairy woodpecker looked at
MI. IlulTy Ntuiyt III thtJ
,. weren't such friends during the autumn
and winter months when the birdlings
were young Mr.. Hairy was devoted
mate but at other times he only cared
TO look after himself.
, SWELL" he said. ''it's nice for You
two 10 be such friends, but somehow
it's hard to change ones ways. Now
children go In swimming IN the summer
time but never In the winter time. They
don't change their habits just because
they may hear that the polar bears
go In the Icy water at any time at all.
$50 / can't change my ways because
you are different. Mr.. Red-Headed
Woodpecker."
Mrs. Hairy woodpecker now smiled
a regular woodpecker's smile but Mrs.
Red-Headed Woodpecker drummed on
piece OF bark and said to herself:
"That's jokei AS though Mr..
Hairy Woodpecker thought he could
make an excuse like that and have II
sound sensible. The very idea OF chill
dren swimming through the Ice be-
cause the polar bears do A little far
fetched, little far-fetched, I will
say"
But Just then along came Mr..
Downy woodpecker with his family
on his way to join some of his winter
friends. the nuthatches and chicka-
dees.
Hello, cousins" he called. He was
much smaller than his cousins; he
wore a black suit striped with white
with white bands over and under his
eyes. lie. too, cared for red for he
wore a patch Of It on the upper side
Of his neck.
"l'm going to drum and tattoo and
play In the bapd-or on the tree, and
I'm going to get insects, am. All. but
cousins, none of you know how 10
drum as / do For I can make love
drumming, can keep cheerful drum
ming, ! can make my home and get
my meals doing the same thing.
"There are few creatures like that.
When children say they love their sis
ters and brothers they have TO use
: words; when mothers see about the
meals they have to use stoves and
:, groceries, and when grown-ups build
:. their homes they have to get carpen-
, ters. And as for keeping cheerful,
= they have to dance or play or sing
! and we can Just drum. drum. drum,
: drum, drum"
!, "Heigh-ho, helgh-ho, drum, drum
said the Yelcw-Bellied Woodpecker,
known as the Sapsucker; I'm looking
: forward 10 the spring days when the
a sap will come from the trees, but In
= .he meantime I'll have worm or two,
1 But / won't stay in this cold climate
! all winter. l won't"
q Did the Dog know3