Evening star., 1937-07-12

work they will be taken care of by
their neighbors, no longer want to
work. No longer do they have any
pride Sally Sly lost her pride long,
long ago, or else she never had any.
Her children always are welfare
children, fed, cared for and brought
up by neighbors. They are selfish,
grasping and without gratitude.
Having arrived, Sally began look
ing for nests. She never has built
one herself. why bother with so
much work when one can always
find nests of others?" says she.
But this year finding nests wasn't
so easy. She was ahead of most OF
the ones whose nests she usually
made use of. In way Sally Sly is
smart. People who impose on others
have to be smart to certain ex-
tent. They have to be smart enough
to know who can be imposed on and
who cannot Sally Sly is smart
enough to know that she can i'm
pose on birds smaller than herself
more easily than she can on birds of
her own size or larger. She is smart
enough to know that the largest baby
in nest will get the most food and,
getting the most food, will grow fastest
and be the strongest. Her baby is
bound to be the biggest in the nest
of those smaller than herself. So
it is for small nests that she keeps
an open eye as she goes sneaking
about
Now. the birds that she likes best
to impose upon are not, as a rule,
among the very early arrivals in the
Spring. Why she herself had come
quite so early she didn't know. but
there she was, and II she could get
her egg laying out of the way soon
she would have long Summer OF
freedom to do what she pleased and
60 where she pleased. Winsome and
Mrs. Bluebird had a nest, but 1t was
in birdhouse. Mrs. Robin had nest,
and Sally kept watchful eye on it.
She didn't want to use it if she could
help herself. for later the young
Robins would be as big or as bigger
than her own baby Besides, it seemed
as II Welcome or his mate always was
on guard at that nest.
Then it was that she discovered
Mrs. Phoebe going in and out from
porch of Farmer Browns house.
Sally didn't like going so near the
house as that, but at last she VEN
tured close to the porch for a hur-
ried glance inside. Just little way
in from the end, on top of pillar
that partly supported the roof, was
q nest. No doubt it was Mrs. Phoebe's
nest. She watched her chance, and
when both Mr.. and Mrs. Phoebe were
out hunting insects she hurriedly
slipped into the porch and straight
to that nest. She expected to find
an egg or perhaps several in it. There
was none. The nest was empty.
Never mind" thought Sally Sly.
This nest is all finished and Mrs.
Phoebe must be ready to lay. I'll
leave an egg here, anyway"
So Sally Sly left an egg in the nest
and hurried away. She was in such
. hurry that she didn't take the time
to look around. Had she done so
she probably would have seen another
nest, on a rafter higher up at the
back Of the porch. But she felt un-
easy being in 4 part Of = building
that way, and she got out and away
as quickly as she could. Mr.. Phoebe
saw her leaving. He flew straight to
the nest on the rafter. There were
four white eggs in it, as there should
be. Then he flew to the other nest.
In 1t was larger egg, 50 covered
with brown markings that it looked
brownish.
What is it?" asked Mrs. Phoebe,
who had Just come in.
Nothing much" chuckled Mr.
Phoebe. sally Sly has just made a
mistake. She has left an egg In our
last years nest. I fear 1t won't hatch"
(cepyrtsht. 1o37J .