Part 2

"'Concert in the village park to-morrow morning at 6 o'clock. All those who are taking part will, of course, be present. Those who are not taking part will be invited to attend. Splendid music. Good seats. Feature of concert to be the soloist. The name of the soloist will not be made known until the concert.'

"All the birds were tremendously excited when they read that, for it was all a surprise arranged by the vireos. They were the only ones who knew who the soloist was to be. At the rehearsals even the soloist had not appeared.

"At last the time for the concert came. All the birds were up very early that morning, fussing to look their very best.

"Most of the birds sat around on the grass, but some of them had reserved boxes in the trees.

"The program for the concert was delightful. The robins sang in chorus, as did the chirping sparrows. The warblers sang quartets and duets. Several of the chickadees gave little solos. The thrushes and the vireos appeared many times on the program. They were encored again and again and were greatly pleased.

"The soloist was to appear the very last. A vireo came out and announced to the audience that the soloist, being slightly nervous, would not stand before them and sing, but would sing from a very short distance.

"Then they heard from a neighboring tree the strange, lonely song of the whippoorwill. He sang his song several times over, and the applause was terrific. The birds were charmed, absolutely charmed.

"The whippoorwill was very modest and didn't see why they liked his solo at all. He had really been very shy about appearing at the concert. But he was encouraged by the vireos, who, as a rule, are nervous, too, when they appear in public.

"At the conclusion of the concert a vote of thanks was given the vireos for the crowning success of their concert and an additional vote of thanks for their splendid soloist."

THE ROBINS OPEN A SPRING SHOP

"The robins, having left their warm winter home, had settled near a great, big, lovely park," said daddy. "Now, one of the robins happened to be a very practical old bird. He suggested that they shouldn't spend all their time singing, especially now, before the summer came. Then he thought it was all right to play and sing all day. But it would be nicer now, he thought, to do a little work.

"The old robin's idea was that certain robins every morning should start out and dig up worms, for then they could get more than they wanted and could help supply the flocks and flocks of newcomers. Then other robins could go into the woods and get the new little berries that had just come up, and the rest of the robins would keep a shop in the biggest tree of the park. All the birds would do their shopping there in the most central place.

"All the robins agreed that it would be an excellent scheme and so much better than idling away all their time.

"As soon as a new flock of birds would come to the park the other birds would tell them about the shop of the robins, and off they would fly to it. And such good things as the robins all had in their shop! It kept them pretty busy hurrying around to get enough provisions to last for all of their customers as well as themselves. But they thoroughly enjoyed being so busy and decided that there was nothing in the world like work. At night they would feel so much better than if they'd been idle all day, and then they felt as if they had really been doing some good, for it was a great, great help to all of the other birds. You can imagine how they wouldn't be able to find things so quickly and they wouldn't know right away where the softest earth was so as to dig for the worms.

"Of course some of the early bird families did arrive as early as the robins, but the robins were the thoughtful and unselfish ones who thought of the other birds."

"Did they charge anything for the things they sold?" asked Jack.

"No," said daddy; "the old robin said that birds should never charge each other anything, and, besides, they really felt that the work was doing them good and that then they'd enjoy the summer all the more.

"And the other birds certainly did appreciate what the robins were doing for them.

"The shop of the robins grew to be just like a daily party, for all the birds would fly there every day just about the same time, and after they had picked out the berries and the worms that struck their fancies they'd stay around and chirp and chat with the robins and each other."

THE RACE BETWEEN THE SECRETARY BIRDS

"The secretary birds had planned to have some field races," began daddy, "and the afternoon of the races had come. You know, the secretary birds have very, very long thin legs. Their legs are so thin that you can hardly see how it is they can support such big bodies, for the secretary birds have really fat bodies.

"Well, on the afternoon of the races they all entered, and you never saw such running in all your life! They simply went like the wind, but the chief race of all was between one bird named Sandy and one named Mongo. They were considered the fastest runners of all. They had raced often and often before and had always come in a tie. But this time Mongo had been practising very hard and had been very careful not to eat anything to hurt his wind. Sandy had been practising every day, too, but he thought it was absurd to give up things to eat. However, Mongo had always heard that all athletes were very careful of their eating, and, as he had never been able to beat Sandy yet, he was bound he would try everything he could so as to win.

"The prize was to be a fine, great, big snake which had been captured and killed a few days before the races were to take place."

"Do secretary birds eat snakes?" asked Evelyn.

"Yes," said daddy; "they practically live on them."

"I shouldn't think that would be nice food," added Evelyn.

"No, we don't think so," answered daddy, "but you know we eat bacon and like it, so probably the secretary birds think it is as funny for us to eat pigs as we do to hear of their eating snakes."

"No," said Evelyn thoughtfully, "I suppose not. They sound so horrid, though."

At that moment Jack, who was growing very impatient, not caring what the secretary birds ate, chimed in: "Daddy, please hurry and tell us who won the race. I can hardly wait to hear. I am sure Mongo did, though."

"No," said Evelyn; "I think Sandy did because he wasn't such an old fuss as Mongo."

"Well," continued daddy, "during the race all the secretary birds shrieked in their cackling voices: 'Go it; go it! Win, Mongo! Win, Sandy!'

"For a few moments Mongo got quite a bit ahead, but Sandy succeeded in catching up with him, and they passed by the goal side by side.

"It was a splendid race, but it showed that Mongo and Sandy were really absolutely evenly matched, so they gave a funny cackle, which meant a laugh, and each, taking an end of the prize, said, 'We'll all have a taste of the prize, as neither of us can win it.'

"So they all sat down to a very jolly supper party."

THE QUARREL BETWEEN NAUGHTY LITTLE SPARROWS

Jack and Evelyn had been feeding crumbs to the birds every day for some time.

"I fancy they enjoy them pretty well, don't they?" said daddy.

"Yes; they love them," replied Evelyn.

"Do they ever scrap over who shall get a crumb first?" added daddy.

"No," said Jack; "they never seem to. They really are very cunning, and they seem to be very friendly and get along beautifully."

"Well, you know," said daddy, "the other day I saw some birds having an awful fight. One little sparrow had found a very big crumb and was trying to keep it all to himself."

"Sparrows are supposed to be rather fond of fighting, aren't they, daddy?" asked Jack.

"They do seem to be considered crosser and to have more cranky natures than other birds. But perhaps it's because they're always around us, and they never have a quarrel that we don't see it. But really we ought to be very grateful to the sparrows, for we always have them with us."

"Yes; that's true," said Evelyn. "And they're plucky little creatures, too, never minding bad weather, not even the very worst. But do tell us more about the fight, daddy."

"Another little sparrow," continued daddy, "was furious when he saw the selfishness of the first sparrow. He completely lost his temper. He flew at the first little sparrow and hit him with his wings just as hard as ever he could.

"Then a number of sparrows came and joined in the fight. Some took the side of the first sparrow and some of the second sparrow.

"It really might have been quite a serious battle had not an old sparrow stepped in and pitched his voice way up in the air. He simply shrieked at the sparrows.

"'Stop; stop at once!' he cried.

"All the sparrows stopped at once, for they were very much afraid of the old sparrow. He was quite their leader, and, though he was a very jolly old soul and would enter into all their sports, still he was quite strict.

"'Aren't you ashamed of yourselves, all of you,' he continued--'you, little first sparrow, for being so selfish, and you, little second one, for losing your temper, and the rest of you for joining in?'

"And all the little sparrows hung their heads in shame, and they then and there promised the old sparrow that they would never again be greedy and selfish nor would they fight.

"The old sparrow then looked very much relieved, for it always made him very unhappy when the sparrows were naughty."

THE SUCCESSFUL CONCERT OF THE CHICKADEES

Evelyn was very fond of little chickadees, and she was so pleased when daddy said that he was going to tell them a story about them that evening.

"You know," commenced daddy, "the chickadees had a concert the other evening for the other birds. They sent out invitations on petals of flowers, and on the petals they made little holes with their beaks. They made six holes, meaning that the concert would begin at 6 o'clock. Exactly at 6 they all arrived.

"They were all invited to perch on the nearby apple tree and pear tree, and the chickadees hopped about on the grass below.

"Then the concert began. First one little chickadee sang a very sweet little solo, which won a great deal of applause.

"The choruses were enjoyed tremendously, too, and the refrain of 'chickadee-dee-dee' was lovely, the other birds thought.

"But, as you can imagine, the chickadee knew that it was the fashion to have special features at concerts or at least one special feature.

"So as a surprise, just before the last number, which was a chorus of all the chickadees, a special feature was announced by the leader of the concert.

"'We are to have,' said the chickadee leader, 'a different number from any other on the program.'

"At this all the birds looked at one another with astonishment.

"'We are to have,' the chickadee leader continued, 'a ballet.'

"Now, the birds knew that in 'really real' grand opera there is usually a ballet, but to have one at their concert was wonderful.

"But before they had time to talk about it out came all the little chickadees, dancing and hopping and wearing little wreaths of flowers about their necks. Each carried a little flower in his beak, and every flower was of a different color.

"For some time they danced in and out of a little circle which they made. They received constant applause.

"It was something new and different to have a ballet dance at the concert. The birds were very much impressed with the chickadees for being so up to date.

"The chickadees were delighted that their concert had been such a success, for, as a matter of fact, they had been rather nervous in getting up a concert when the other birds had given such beautiful ones during the spring. They knew that their voices were not at all lovely, but the birds had wanted to hear them, and now the chickadees were very, very happy."

THE COLONY OF STARLINGS GIVE A BALL

The birds gave concerts early every morning and sometimes, too, they would give an extra one just after the sun went down in the afternoon. Jack and Evelyn loved to hear the birds sing, and they told daddy that they were really learning to know the various songs of the different birds.

"I have meant for some time," said daddy, "to tell you a story about a ball the starlings gave some time ago. Now the starlings are not singers. They can only chirp and twitter, but they love music and enjoy hearing all the other birds. They are great friends with the robins, and when they suggested giving a ball the robins were at once ready to help them with it."

"I don't believe we know what starlings are. We may have seen them and not have known what they were," said Jack.

"Starlings," continued daddy, "are about the same size as robins. They are black, or they appear to be black. In reality their feathers look different colors in different lights. But they usually appear black, as, of course, they don't come so very near to people. They are not nearly so tame as the robins. They have yellow beaks. And another thing about them is that they are very fond of their own kind. They travel always in huge flocks, for they love to be together.

"But to continue about the ball. The starlings said that they would like to give a party, and the robins thought it was an excellent plan.

"So invitations were sent out to all the other birds around. And they all accepted with great pleasure.

"Ever so many were invited. There were the chickadees, the song sparrows, the chipping sparrows, the orioles, the thrushes, and even the catbirds were asked.

"Of course, great preparations were made for the ball. The robins said that they would give the music, for, of course, the starlings couldn't have a ball without music.

"And you should have seen the birds dancing. They danced until they were completely out of breath. The robins sang lovely waltzes and they whistled for the jigs.

"Then, when the starlings thought that their guests had had enough of the dancing, they suggested that they should all have some supper. They had their supper served in little moss cups for each bird, and it did taste so good out of such a dainty, pretty cup."

"I suppose they had little worms, didn't they?" asked Evelyn.

"Yes, indeed," said daddy, "but that is what they think is delicious."

ROBIN REDBREAST'S AND MISS ROBIN'S WEDDING

"Little Miss Robin was preening her feathers and smoothing them down, for it was the 14th of February and she had received a valentine. Naturally she was very much excited, and she looked at her reflection as she stood over the brook.

"'Yes,' she said to herself, 'I am looking well to-day. I do hope Mr. Robin Redbreast will think so too. My, what a fine bird he is! And, oh, how lucky I am to have received a valentine from him!'

"Now Mr. Robin Redbreast for a long time had admired Miss Robin and thought she was the most beautiful bird he'd ever seen. And so he began to get his valentine ready 'way back in the autumn when the trees had turned red. He would fly from tree to tree and spend hours each day looking for the most beautiful and perfect leaf, and he wanted it to be a real crimson color. At last he found it and put it away in his nest, very carefully covering it over with moss and straw to keep it well protected and so it wouldn't fade or shrivel up at the ends. Then a few days before Valentine's day he got a little stick which he stuck through the red leaf, which he had pecked off into the shape of a heart, and this was the valentine he sent to Miss Robin. Of course the stick was to mean that his heart had been pierced by love.

"Mr. Robin Redbreast sent his valentine by a messenger, and then he waited what seemed hours to him before he went to call on Miss Robin, and it seemed hours to Miss Robin, too, who had smoothed her feathers so many times.

"At last Miss Robin heard him singing the most beautiful song, with such high notes it seemed as if they almost reached the sky. And, oh, how proud Miss Robin was to feel that such a beautiful singer was to be her mate!

"In a few moments Mr. Robin Redbreast came in sight and stood before her by the brook. Miss Robin was all of a flutter with joy and nervousness.

"'I've come,' said Mr. Robin Redbreast, 'to ask you if you'll be my wife and come to my new nest in the apple tree.'

"And then he sang another little song.

"'I would love to, I would love to!' chirped Miss Robin.

"'We'll be married to-day, then,' said Mr. Robin Redbreast, 'for I've invited the guests.'

"Then he gave a long call. At that, from far and near, countless robins flew down and hovered around.

"Mr. Robin Redbreast and his bride flew to the branch of a nearby tree, and all the others perched about them singing such merry, happy songs.

"And then they all went back to Mr. Robin Redbreast's nest, where a banquet awaited them of fat, juicy worms."

THE TAME CANARY BIRD AND HIS MISTRESS

Daddy had heard that afternoon the story of a very tame canary bird. The little girl who owned the bird, and who was a friend of Jack and Evelyn, had told daddy about her little pet. So when daddy got home in the evening he was ready at once to tell the story of the little bird.

"I am going to tell you about the little bird Elizabeth has. Her daddy gave him to her several weeks ago, and he is just as tame as tame can be," said daddy. "She has named him Bubsie, and he knows his name too, for whenever she calls 'Bubsie!' he replies with a little 'Peep, peep!'

"Every morning, bright and early, he wakes up and begins to sing the most beautiful songs. He sings so steadily that Elizabeth says it is a surprise to her that he doesn't burst his little throat.

"After Elizabeth gets up she always gives him a little piece of apple before she begins her breakfast. She puts it on her finger between two wires of the cage, and he hops right over on his little bar and takes it from her finger.

"The next thing is his bath, which he takes soon after breakfast. He loves that. He spatters the water about and has just the best time in the world. He acts as if it were the most wonderful game. After his bath he has a treat of delicious lettuce to eat, and then he sits in the sun and smoothes down his feathers.

"In his cage there is a swing, and he swings on it and hops from one perch to the other. In fact, he has a fine romp. He usually does this right after his bath, for then he feels so energetic.

"In the afternoons Elizabeth lets him out of his cage. Of course she sees first that there are no windows up or doors ajar before she opens the door of the cage. When the cage door is open Bubsie flies out and makes a tour of the room. How he does enjoy flying around and perching back of the different pictures and on the window-sill. The thing he likes more than anything else is to play with Elizabeth. He perches on her shoulder and walks around on her hand. And he loves to tease her too, for if there are any flowers in the room he will fly over to them, peck at them and begin munching at them. Then he won't let Elizabeth catch him. He thinks this a huge joke, and he always flies to some high spot in the room and begins to sing.

"Elizabeth told me any number of tales of the tricks that he does, but she told me to invite you two children to come and see her, and then she promises you that Bubsie will entertain you."

"Oh, that's fine!" said Evelyn. "Do you suppose we can go to-morrow?"

"Yes, I think so," said daddy, "for, as a matter of fact, I believe I told her to expect you both to-morrow."

"Hurrah!" shouted the children. "You always think of such nice things for us to do."

THE PET BIRD OF THE WARD

"Well," said daddy, "I suppose you are ready for your story, and this evening I am going to tell you about a little boy I saw as I passed by a ward in a hospital I was visiting to-day."

Jack and Evelyn sat up and listened eagerly, as they loved to hear about other little boys and girls.

"This little boy," daddy continued, "was in the bed nearest the door I passed, and I noticed him particularly because on a table near his bed was a large cage containing a small yellow canary bird. I asked the nurse if pets were allowed in the ward and why this little boy especially wanted a bird. She told me that the little boy was an orphan and had been brought into the hospital one day, having been run over by a motorcycle. He was very much injured, and they expected he would die any minute. He was brave and scarcely moaned, but whenever the nurse would stop by his bed he would beg her to send for his bird, which was at the orphans' home. The nurse gently would explain that pets were not allowed in the hospital. One night his fever became very high, and in his rambling talk he begged for his canary. The doctor, who was a very kind-hearted man, told the nurse to send for the bird, as the little boy would not live more than a few days, and if the bird would give him such great happiness they might be able to break a rule in his case.

"So the bird was sent for, and instead of dying the little boy began to grow better each day, and the bird's singing entertained and gave pleasure to the other patients in the ward. The bird was very tame, and when the little boy opened the cage door he would hop out and over the bed-quilt and perch on the little boy's hand.

"The canary made friends with every one. He was not at all afraid of the grave doctors who came in every little while to see how the sick people were getting along. Especially was he friendly with the little boy's nurse, who fed him lumps of sugar.

"I stepped inside the room and asked the little boy how long he had had the bird. 'Oh,' he said, 'a lady who came to visit the orphans' home gave him to me when I was ill in bed with mumps! That was six years ago, and he has been such a friend to me ever since. His name is Mumps, too, as I thought his chest looked as fat as my cheeks, and the name has always clung to him. He adores flowers, and whenever a patient has any, Mumps flies over and pulls off the petals and eats them.'"

"Oh," said Evelyn as daddy paused, "I wish I could have a canary!"

"Well, maybe I'll bring you one to-morrow," replied daddy.

"And I'll help you feed him," said Jack.

THE EAGLE'S PRIDE AS THE BIRD OF FREEDOM

Of course, as you can imagine, Jack and Evelyn had been buying all sorts and all sizes of firecrackers.

"I think the Fourth of July is my favorite holiday of the whole year," said Jack.

"Yes," said Evelyn, "so do I, except possibly Christmas and our birthdays."

"I suppose," said daddy, "that you two children will be up bright and early to-morrow morning, and I have my very great suspicions that your clothes are all ready to be put on in the morning instead of having to waste any time in thinking what you will wear.

"I hardly think I had better tell a story to-night," said daddy, "for you two ought to get some sleep. I am afraid by the time I finish you may suggest that instead of it being the time for going to bed it is the time for getting up."

"Oh, no," said both the children. "Please tell us a little story."

"Yes," said daddy, "I don't believe I can let a single night go by without a story, not even the Fourth of July eve.

"Well, once upon a time--"

"Daddy," chimed in Jack, "I never heard you begin a story that way before."

"You see, this is a special occasion, so I am allowed these favors.