The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1922-02-18
!. THE
CHILDREN'S HOUR
THE BIRD APRON.

Resale was Such a warm friend or
the birds that her father said they
made little bows and wiggled their
tails for joy every time they saw the
flash of her white apron in the garden.
No wonder they welcomed her, for
the pockets of that white apron were
always stuffed with good things for
them. But those white pockets suf-
fered because of the birds.
20 Rosalie," the little girls mother
would say. don't you know that you
ought not to carry cherries in your
pockets?"
But, mother" Rosalie would an.
swer, sorrowfully, Il put the cherries
in ever so carefully and did not pinch
them a bit. You ought to see how
thankful those apple-tree robins were;
the cherries were such a change from
worms"
And, my dear child" mother con.
tinued, you simply must not put suet
and chicken bones into your pockets
"Oh, how the woodpeckers love suet
and chicken bones!" Resale sighed
"Such an agreeable change from in.
sects!"
Mother smiled, but she was firm
1--WE shall have to think of some
agreeable change from fruit stains
and grass spots, too" she said.
Ralph, Rosalie's twin brother, loved
the birds as much as Rosalie did. He
felt sorry for his sister and wished
that he could think of some way to
help her. Then, one day, while he was
watching the cook get supper, an idea
came to him.
: He stood silent for while. Mary
he said, presently, that milk you just
spilled on the table-will it soak
through the Govern"
ooh, no." said Mary, that's oilcloth
Grease and stains don't hurt it,
Then hurrah for Rosalie!" Ralph
cried, and went running upstairs.
"Mother!" he cried. 1--WE invented
something! A bird apron for Rosa
lie!" He looked at his mother and
laughed. I'm sure it will be ar
agreeable change" he said, iron
the kind of apron she uses now"
Then he unfolded his plan. Ar
apron made of white oilcloth with g
number of pockets in it would be just
the thing, he said. Lets make hel
one, mother, for surprise"
That afternoon, mother went shop
ping and brought home some white
oilcloth and several yards of pink tape
Then she and Ralph set to work.
The next morning was Saturday
cloudy and cold. AS soon as she fin
ished her breakfast, Rosalie saidl a!
usual, We'll, I think I'll feed the
BIRDS"
She began to look around fol
crumbs. 'I'll try to be careful, moth
err she said, "but, oh, there are 81
many things that the birds ought tt
have!"
Ralph ran out of the room and came
back with fiat parcel under his arm
The birds can wait minute, Rosa
lie," he said. Turn around and holt
out your arms and shut your eyes,
What do you mean?" asked Rosa
| lie; but she did as she was told.
In fash, Ralph had slipped tn,
apron on her and tied the strings
Nov take all the food you wish to tn
birds!' he exclaimed happily, AM
stood back.
Rosalie opened her eyes and look
ed down. Obi" she cried She raj
into the next room and stood befor
the mirror. We'll, if it isn't a bir
apron!" she said.
There was no mistaking it; a bir
apron it was, made of shiny white oil
cloth and bound around the edges an
tied at the back with pink tape.
was full of pockets, and each poke
was outlined with pink tape.
In three minutes more, every poke
was full and Rosalie was standing O
the porch, scattering bounty to tn
birds.
When she came back into the hous,
her face was shining.
"The birds admired the apron" sh
said. 1.-TWO robins and a wren cam
right up in front of me, sat perfect
still and gazed at the apron with thei
heads on one side. Anyway, they lool
ed very thankful" -Yo,tb.s co,,to,;o,,