Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-05-09
CHAPTER II
Why Blue Heron ChOked

Why Blue Heron Choked
rHE fussy looking little lady owl
blinked at Jack and Janet and they
hared back at her. She had taken
them by surprise. They hadn't expect
"a a bird like her to come in answer
"a their call for q mate for Blue Heron.
SWell, we'll, why don't. you say
somcthing?" snapped the fussy looking
little lady owl at last. Here am
ready to wed the mate you offer me-"
Janet found her voice at this: I'm
afraid, dear Miss Owl, there, 10 some
ni.ts1s' 1!I "sA: not a::s :sid M,.. OWL, snapped
feathers. "I am Mrs. Screech Owl
and there is no mistake. Didn't you
sing this song:
were looking for a birdie free
who wants to wed and happy be-"
EYES we did sing that song" ad-
mitted Janet. 'But II you are Mrs.
Sereech Owl and not Miss Owl. that
means you are already married and 90
YOU cannot. wed poor lonesome Blue
Heron"
svefed Mrs. Screech Owl tartly. I've
been q miss and q Mrs. and now I am
a widow. I can wed whom please,
.nd plsrssss rs..s to y wed Cd your friend' Blue
Janet doubted IL Blue Heron would
be pleased to marry the fussy .looking
lsdy owl. So she hesitated to say where
he was. As for Jack, all he could do
was TO grin. He was thinking how com.
ical little Mrs. Screech Owl would look
az the mate Of long legged Blue Heron:
Just then Blue Heron's odd, woeful
song was borne to them on the breeze :
EMO birdie dear
Admires the shape Of my beak."
Little Mrs. Screech Owl gave a shrek
Of Joy. "Oh.ooo! There he is," she
cried. ..'I will 20 to my mate"
She fluttered in the direction whence
tho song came. Jack and Janet, not
knowing what else to do, followed her.
Blue Heron was still standing on one
lsg in the shadows Of the river. He
looked more mournful than ever. Sud.
denly his beak plunged into the mud.
Up Il came, dangling a frog. Blue Heron
threw Johnny Frog into the air. caught
began to swallow him.
"Oh 1000 ooo - shrieked Mrs. Screech
Owl. "What fine beak with which 10
catch food. will marry you today"
Mrs. Screech Owls shrek startled
Blue Heron. 1t made him jump. The
frog got caught half way down his
throat. Blue Heron gasped and choked
and squirmed. He couldn't get the frog
down nor up. His face turned black,
his eyes stuck out.
''Oh, he is choking to DEATH" cried
Janet. What Is good for frog in the
throat"
Pounding him on the back" shout.
cd Jack. "That Ia what mother did to
me when swallowed penny"
Jack plunged into the shadows and
pounded Blue Heron on the back. Tie
first pounding didn't do much good, so
Jack pounded harder. He gave Blue
Heron thump that made the big bird
stagger and cough.
Up came Johnny Frog. He few out
Of Blue Heron's beak and landed in the
water. And the instant Johnny Frog
hit the water, away he swan for dear
lifa y
Blue Heron sasped. "wh.wh.what
was that awful noise that scared me?''
Mrs. Screech Owl, who had been
looking on ,anxiously, An6ed out her
feathers. j. b.
1T was me, dear Blue Heron" she
little mate"
Blue Heron looked at Mrs. screech
owl and gasped again.
"Oh," he spluttered, II wish I were
that jumping frog. and that I had eaten
myself"
Jack and Janet find that Il Is easier
to find bride for Blue Heron than II
10 70 get rid Of her.