The Columbia evening Missourian., 1922-05-03

will give you strength. l have searche,
long for this meal. because, my darlings
today you shall begin your education
at the University Campus, where tn,
Wise Sparrow lives. On the terrace
where the columns stand, the Wis,
Sparrow will lecture. and will give yol
lessons in flying. If you pay strict at
tention, you will some day become learn
cd. successful sparrows.'
"Oh, goody, goody," c;amored the
five son-sparrows in great excitement
''Now we shall see the big world and
learn everything"
They were glad that soon they would
be freed from the restraint Of their
mother, who corrected them constantly
and had chastiscd them severely on pre-
vious attempts to leave the nest If the
mother-sparrow felt any anguish because
of the ready joy of her sons to leave
her, she said nothing; for she under
stood the thouehtlessness of children,
and this was not her first family. How
ever. the son-sparrows soon finished their
meal.
| Come now," said the mother-spar-
row, hop down on the branches as
do: and hold tightly, or else you will
fall"
Chipping cxciiedly. they awkwardly
flutiercd and hoped from limb TO limb;
but under the walchful eye and advice
of their mother, they safely got 10 the
ground. She then directed them how
to reach the columns and warned them
not to delay along the road. She scold-
ed the fussy ones with shrill tongue. To
tell the truth, she was slightly vain
about her motherhood. and was proud
to display her vigorous family 10 less
fortunate neishbor mothers. You can
be sure that she did not fail to i'm
press upon her sons, those dangers ihai
bcsct youth in his conquest of life. The
son-sparrows, although they had at firs,
welcomed this venture were now truly
timorous about facing the big world
alone; and, at this moment of parting,
felt more affection for their mother
than ever before. However, with many
fond goodbys-and some misgivings, too
the son-sparrows hoped away to the
Campus to get an education.
WISE SPARROW TEACHES
Now the Wise Sparrow, or-as some
called her-Foster Mother, was really
very, very wise individual. She had liy-
ed on the University Campus all her
long life. Not for nothing had she sat
in the cool, green, ivy vines, beside the
class room windows, and listened to the
lectures of the learned professors. Great
was her fame, and mother-sparrows from
over all the world sent their sons to
learn from her wisdom. Each day, on
the terrace around the columns. she in
siructed those who came to hear.
On this afternoon. however, her only
listeners we're the five son-sparrows. They
sat around her in the grass between the
columns. She taught them about the sur
vival of the fittest; now they must shun
their enemies, the dogs, and cats, and
boys who throw stones; and she told
them of their history; how their fore
fathers came from Europe. For a time,
the son-sparrows listened in wonder to
the earnest words of the Wise Teacher.
but soon their attention waned; their
beady, black eyes began to blink. and
l..
meath a soft wing. The Foster Mother
then, seeing that they were weary, rous-
ed them from their sleepy spell, saying
sharply.
Come now, children. l shall give you
lessons in flying; watch me and do
as | do
And she stood on the edge of the
lawn terrace, swiftly famed the air with
her wings, and flew down to the level
lawn. They followed her example, some
times failing and sometimes succeeding.
but gaining strength and knowledge with
each attempt. She made them do it over
many times. and taught them to per-
severe. But the son-sparrows were not
very attentive; they preferred to hop
about. to chat and frolic, and search in
the cool earth among the grass roots for
fat, little bugs. The Foster Mother was
kind and patient, and let them seek their /;
pleasure; but she wished in her mother
heart that, for their own improvement. |
they would listen more attentively to her
teaching. After a while she said:
''Sons-for she always addressed her |
pupils as such-''now that your wings are !;
stronger We shall hop in the vines to
the tops of the columns, and take flights
to the ground"
''Oh, great" the son-sparrows chirped |
gleefully, I'VE feel strong enough now to !
fly up to the sky;" and each one, eager !
to hop up by himself, claimed differ
ent column.
''Oh. wait, wait!" cheeped in a panic |
the son-sparrow who had fluttered to
the third column. Il cannot get up;
there are so few vines on my column;
it is almost bare
mine, too, is bare" cried the SON.
sparrow who had chosen the sixth col |
umn."
Il know that" quietly answered the
Foster Mother, ''two Of these columns
are nearly bare of vines all the year
around"
why. how is that: you have taught us !