Part 3
"But, to continue, there was once a great big eagle who was flying overhead on the Fourth of July, and when he saw all the firecrackers going off and heard all the noise and saw the parade with the flags flying and the band playing, he said:
"'To think that I belong to the family that is taken as the representative of all that. I mean freedom and liberty and all those wonderful things. My great-great-grandfathers may not have fought for freedom as the great-great-grandfathers of the little boys and girls who are to-day firing off firecrackers did, but they flew overhead and said to the winds, which whispered it to the soldiers:
"'"The eagles are free--you must be free." And the soldiers whispered back to the winds:
"'"Yes, as the eagles are free in the air above, so will we be free on this land below."'
"So, no wonder the eagle is more than proud of being the bird of freedom and the emblem of the United States."
WHAT THE BIRDS THOUGHT OF THE FOURTH OF JULY
It was the day after the Fourth of July, and daddy told the children that he must surely tell them about the little birds and what they thought of the wonderful Independence Day.
"Didn't they like it?" asked Evelyn.
"No," said daddy. "They were not so very happy yesterday, but I will tell you all about it, for it is quite a long story.
"You see, some of the older birds knew what the Fourth of July meant. They thought it was splendid to belong to such a fine, free country during all the other days of the year, but on the Fourth of July they did not feel so patriotic. They would have liked it very much if all the little boys and girls had sung songs, but the noise of the firecrackers they thought was most disturbing.
"There were no places where they could go that they didn't find children with firecrackers. Even in front of the farm-houses the children seemed to have firecrackers enough to last them for years.
"The old birds decided that if they went way off in the woods for the day they might get away from all the noise, so they planned to start before dawn. They went, but at the first place they thought of stopping and giving a nice little bird concert, they found a picnic party of children. They waited for a moment until the children unpacked their baskets. But the goodies were not nearly so numerous as the firecrackers.
"So the birds moved on again, and again they found a picnic party and were at a loss what to do.
"The old birds were grumbling and making every one around feel just as 'grumbly' as they were, when a little song sparrow, who had been keeping very quiet during all the fuss, said:
"'Now, look here, I think it is pretty mean of us to grumble while all the little boys and girls are having such a good time. It is right for them to be patriotic, and we should not grumble about the noise they make one day in the year, when we are singing fit to burst our throats every morning just at sunrise. Besides, we should be more appreciative, for we love this free air, and we should feel proud that we can fly about and enjoy it. And, above everything else, think of the times in the spring when those little girls and boys threw crumbs to us when it was chilly, and how often in the hot days of summer we find little drinking-tins in the trees filled with cool water.'
"And all the birds suddenly thought how perfectly right the song sparrow was, and they gave their concert, pretending that the big cannon crackers were huge chords of music accompanying their solos and choruses."
MR. NIGHTINGALE'S NEW FRIEND MR. BLACKBIRD
"I heard a story the other day," said daddy, "a quite true story. Mr. Nightingale had built too large a nest.
"After a while he thought of a visitor he would like to have all the time, and off he started on his travels.
"As he went along, flying as fast as he could, he kept thinking to himself how very lonely he had been of late.
"At last he reached the spot he had chosen for resting. It was in a blackbird's bay. There were many low bushes and shrubs and berry trees in this bay, and in the marshy water were quantities of pond-lilies.
"Soon a very fine bird--black as black could be, and very shiny, just as if he'd polished his wings with shoe-blacking--perched on a bush beside the one where Mr. Nightingale was resting.
"'Did you come to hear us sing or talk or scream?' asked the blackbird.
"Mr. Nightingale sang a little opening song and then began to talk to the blackbird.
"'Mr. Blackbird,' he said, 'you're a handsome fellow, and you're very smart. I've heard a secret about your family. Many have done what you will do. You must try. That's all.' And again Mr. Nightingale sang a song.
"'What do you mean, Mr. Nightingale? Your song is lovely, but your talk is very, very queer.' And Mr. Blackbird shook his head sadly.
"'Well, I mean you to come to my nest. It's too big for me. It's fitted out perfectly--all the latest improvements--fresh water to drink supplied by my water man, Mr. Showers, and new worms each day my children bring to my nest in plenty of time for breakfast--and our rooms are both shady and sunny. In fact, it's a very superior home. But in the house nearby lives a dear old lady and I want her to be given a treat. She has gone away on a visit and when she comes back I want you to be singing duets with me.'
"'What?' shouted the blackbird. 'I'm to sing with you?'
"'Most certainly. Many blackbirds have copied our voices so that you wouldn't be able to tell us apart if you couldn't see us. The nice old lady will hear our voices and think that there are two of me! When she sees that one is you, she'll think you're a smart bird--that's what she'll think. Besides, I want a companion and I like you.'
"'Well, I never heard so many reasons in all my life,' said the blackbird. 'But I'll go just as soon as I get my suitcase packed. There are several little delicacies from the bay I'd like to bring along.' And Mr. Blackbird stopped to put some red berries and other goodies in his straw bag. Then off they went, and Mr. Blackbird really did learn to sing just like Mr. Nightingale."
MR. PLAIN SPARROW CALLS ON DUCKS
"It was such a hot day yesterday," said daddy, "that Mr. Plain Sparrow simply could not get cool. You see he never goes away in the winter and so he gets used to really cold weather. On a day as hot as it was yesterday he simply doesn't know what to do with himself. He called himself Mr. Plain Sparrow because that was exactly what he was. He was just a plain, ordinary sparrow, and he thought it such a wise thing to call himself that--and not put on any silly frills. He prided himself on being sensible.
"'If there's anything in this world I hate,' he said, 'it's pretending to be what a creature is not.' And so he called himself by the name of Mr. Plain Sparrow, and his wife was Mrs. Plain Sparrow, and his children were the Plain Sparrow Children.
"'I think,' he said, 'that I will take a walk or a fly to the duck pond in the park nearby. Yes, it seems to me that's an excellent scheme. I would like to see those ducks, for they're right smart creatures, and I like to hear their funny quack-quack talk.'
"'What are you up to, ducks?' he called, as he flew over the pond, and then perched on a small bush that was at one side.
"'We're well,' said the ducks. 'We're enjoying a cooling drink between swims. Would you like to join us? It's just tea time.'
"'Tea time, eh?' said Mr. Plain Sparrow. 'And would you give a fellow a good, fat worm in place of bread and butter and cake?'
"'Quack-quack! ha, ha!' laughed the ducks. 'We don't like bread and butter and cake. But we can't get the worm for you just now, as we're not very good at digging on such a hot day!'
"'Well, then, how about my digging for a couple of them, and then joining all you nice ducks when you're ready to have your tea?'
"'Splendid idea,' quacked the ducks. And off went Mr. Plain Sparrow to a soft place in the earth where he thought there would be some good worms.
"Pretty soon he came back with some fine ones, and he sat on his perch and ate them, while the ducks nibbled at their food, and had drinks of pond water, which they called tea. Mr. Plain Sparrow flew down and took sips of water by the side of the pond, and in one very shallow place he had some nice showerbaths while the ducks were having swims. And before he left he told the ducks what a good time he had had, and how nice and cool he felt.
"'Well, you're so friendly we're glad you came,' quacked the ducks once again."
FARMER'S SCARECROW PROTECTS A CORN-FIELD
"To-night," said daddy, "we are going to have the story of the meeting of the brownies, crows, and old Mr. Scarecrow. The crows had been giving feasts in a corn-field almost every morning bright and early before any of the big people who lived in the nearby farm-house were up. Such feasts as they did have! And one day they asked the brownies if they wouldn't come to their next one.
"'Caw-caw,' said the crows together.
"'Where are we going?' asked one of the brownies teasingly, for they had been going around and around in circles and hadn't reached any place.
"'I don't quite know,' said Black Crown Crow, 'it's a question which is very hard to decide.'
"'But we thought you had chosen a special spot,' said one of the brownies.
"Black Crown Crow looked very sad, and his black wings seemed to droop. 'It's that guest I never asked. He's causing all the trouble. How very rude it is of folks to come to a feast who aren't invited, and to arrive before us, too. It's very e-x-a-s-p-e-r-a-t-i-n-g!'
"'Who is he?' shouted the brownies, for every little while Black Crown Crow had gone ahead and then had come back. In these little trips he had seen right in the center of the corn-field a man--a real man, he thought, with a hat and a coat and trousers and boots--and carrying something which he couldn't quite make out. It was either a great huge stick--or worse still--it was a gun. He shivered whenever he thought of that awful word gun.
"'Caw-caw,' again shrieked Black Crown Crow, 'it's a man and he has a gun--I'm sure it's a gun. Now the rudeness of him! As if we wanted a man and a gun at our corn feast!'
"'Oh, it was to have been a corn feast, and now the man has stopped it,' laughed one of the brownies. 'Well, such a joke! But to show you how nice we'll be when we're here ready for a party which can't take place, we'll give a nice party ourselves.'
"And the brownies scampered about a little grove near the corn-field, and there they made a bonfire over which they cooked some corn-meal which they had carried with them in their bags. They knew all along, ever since they'd started, where the crows wanted them to go for the feast, and they also knew that the farmer had made that scarecrow in his corn-field to frighten off Black Crown Crow and his followers.
"The brownies made a fine feast, but how they did chuckle among themselves that the pole dressed up as a man had succeeded in saving the corn for the people of the farm-house."
THE BRAVE BROWN SPARROWS IN WINTER
"You know," said daddy, "I saw such a strange thing to-day in the city."
"Tell us about it," said Jack.
"What was it?" asked Evelyn, who was always interested in whatever daddy had to say.
"Well," continued daddy, "in a tree in the park lots and lots of little sparrows were roosting. It was, of course, a perfectly bare tree without a leaf on it, and they were huddled together, keeping each other warm.
"I watched them for quite a time. There was one sparrow who looked the leader. He did most of the chirping and was apparently telling all the others what they must do and giving all sorts of directions. He chirped almost constantly for ten minutes, and then he flew down from the tree and hopped along the ground. He picked up crumb after crumb, and then when he had as many as he could carry in his beak he flew up in the tree again and left them on a branch where there was a kind of hole in which to put them. He was evidently showing all the other birds just what to do, for in a minute or two any number of them flew down to the ground and began to pick up crumbs.
"It was wonderful to see how many they could find, for I myself could hardly see any, and all the time he kept chirping to the others and telling them what to do.
"This kept up for some time, for the birds would fly back and forth, just picking up goodies and then putting them up in the tree. Meantime a lot of other birds who had stayed up in the tree were fixing them on the branch and dividing them all evenly."
"Didn't they eat any of them?" asked Evelyn.
"Yes. After quite awhile they all flew back to the tree again, and once more they huddled together and had the most marvelous meal. You see, it was their dinner time, and they all had it together at the same time to make it more sociable. From all the cries of joy and the noise I fancy they were having a pretty good time of it and enjoying themselves immensely. In fact, I think they almost forgot how cold it was."
"I think it's wonderful," said Evelyn, "how well the birds can look after themselves, for it must be pretty hard sometimes, especially in the winter."
"Yes," said daddy, "it is, but these birds seemed so happy together and to be having such a good time. After dinner was over they all chased each other from one tree to another in the park and played tag and had a beautiful time. So I think really birds and animals are smart and brave to be able to look after themselves and their little ones so well."
WHAT THE RAINBOW THINKS OF THE WORLD
"The fairies were giving a luncheon party for the birds, and they wanted to have a great, big surprise," said daddy. "The birds which were invited were the robins, the orioles, the bluejays, the humming-birds.
"'Now, birdies,' said the fairy queen, 'I'm going to ask the king of the clouds to this luncheon, so we'll have plenty of delicious rain-water to drink.'
"Of course, the fairy queen had told the king of the clouds that she didn't want him to send his army of raindrops to the earth--for an army would make it pour too hard and they couldn't have any fun at the luncheon. She just wanted some of the big, big drops to come down and fill the little stones she had at the places for the birds so that they could have delicious water at her party--but she didn't want to make it so wet they'd get their beautiful feathers drenched--just a nice little shower was what she wanted.
"The king of the clouds had promised, and he had told the raindrops just what to do and just how many could go down on the earth.
"The birds enjoyed the delicious luncheon the fairies gave them, and, of course, they loved their fresh drinks of water.
"'Now for our surprise,' shouted the fairies, after the luncheon was over. 'We're to have two famous guests to-day. This is to be a really real day! And we're to have them both at the same time--and we're to have another treat, too. Guess, birds, what are we going to have? Guess, guess, guess!' For the fairies were so excited they kept repeating themselves over and over again.
"But before the birds had time to do more than twitter and chirp among themselves as to what the great surprise was going to be, who should appear, right along with the raindrops, but Mr. Sun, and then over a hill came the most beautiful rainbow with all the glorious colors the fairies admire so much.
"And then you should have heard the singing of the birds. Every one of them had a glorious voice, and the chorus was the loveliest the fairies had ever heard. As for Mr. Sun, he beamed and shone with might and main.
"'Well, hello, raindrops,' he said. 'I'm mighty glad to see you. It's not often we meet, but the fairy queen can make all of us friendly--even the sun and the rain.'
"And the raindrops came on down to the earth very gently, but without stopping, while back of it all the rainbow leaned down over the hill and whispered:
"'Isn't this a wonderful world? There are fairies, birds, the sun, fresh water to drink. I'm so glad I am here.'"
EAGLES AND RAVENS
"Some white-tailed eagles were boasting one day of their bravery," commenced daddy. "They were also saying how fine they were in every way and that their very name meant something splendid and free and strong.
"As a matter of fact, though the white-tailed eagles won't admit it, they are less brave than any of the eagle families.
"The ravens are not kindly at all and they love to fight. They had often thought it would be great sport to have those 'silly white-tailed eagles,' as they called them, admit that they were not brave and have their leader beg for mercy from General Raven.
"And, as you can imagine, when Brother Black Raven heard the eagles boasting he knew it was high time to begin and frighten them.
"So he called all the ravens together. Some of them were having their naps, but as soon as Brother Black Raven called them, up they got in a great hurry, spread their wings and drilled a little bit just like soldiers. Only instead of marching they flew.
"As General Raven came near the nest of the white-tailed eagles, he said in a very queer, croaking sort of voice:
"'Good-morning!' That was rather mean of him to say, for, of course, he didn't really wish them a 'Good-morning.'
"'Do you want to fight?' asked General Raven.
"Still not a sound from the eagles. There was a slight fluster and trembling, which the ravens could hear and which made them grin with delight, but the eagles never said a word. They didn't even look at the ravens! For they were so frightened they didn't dare look at them, and they kept thinking, 'Oh, won't those awful ravens and their ugly old general go away?' The eagles, of course, thought the ravens were very ugly because they were so afraid of them.
"'For the last time, do you want to fight us, eh?' asked General Raven. And still the eagles said not a word--nor made a sound. 'Well, let me say then for all of us,' said General Raven, 'that we think you're very cowardly, and we heard you talking before we came of your bravery. We wouldn't fight you because you're afraid of us, but you'll have to admit it after this,' and with a deep chuckle off went General Raven and his followers.
"The eagles did not go on boasting, but they were very contented that the ravens had gone away!"
THE EAGLES WHO WERE ALWAYS STILL
"In the house where Kenneth lived there was a chair which had always fascinated him. It was a very, very old chair, and Kenneth's mother and daddy were very proud of it," said daddy to Jack and Evelyn. "Kenneth's daddy had bought it at a sale of old and curious things. It was a Roman chair, and on either side were two heads of eagles. These four heads in all always made Kenneth wonder, for they looked so very life-like. He used to imagine that even little wooden eagles must get very tired of always being just the same.
"Really it often made Kenneth quite sad to watch them. One afternoon Kenneth went to a party. A little school chum of his had given it. It had been a very nice party. But, oh, he did feel so tired, for they had played blind man's buff, bull in the ring, squat tag, and other games.
"When Kenneth came home from the party it was not quite his bedtime, but secretly in his heart he was hoping it would come soon, for he had made up his mind that he wasn't going to bed until his bedtime.
"He got a book from the library shelf. It was full of pictures of sailors and pirates and ships, because if anything would keep him awake that would. He sat down with it on the Roman chair.
"Strangely enough, though, after a moment or two, he didn't seem to see pirates, and the sea began to look very much more like the surface of a chair. Soon the pirates disappeared entirely, and the four eagles of the Roman chair were looking at him steadily.
"'You're terribly tired, aren't you?' said the first eagle.
"'Yes; I'm a little tired,' Kenneth admitted.
"'Well, you're not as tired as we are,' said the second eagle.
"'No, indeed!' said the third eagle. 'You're only tired because you've played so many games. We're tired because we're always still.'
"Kenneth listened eagerly, because he'd so often thought just what he was hearing. 'Yes,' said Kenneth very sympathetically; 'I should think you would be very dull. I've often thought that. Have you been there a long time?'
"'Oh, ages and ages!' replied the fourth eagle, who up to this time hadn't spoken. 'We were very old before your daddy got us. We've been on this chair so long. We can't remember how long. And what makes us feel so sad is that we are called eagles and should fly and yet are forever glued to this chair.'
"'Kenneth, Kenneth,' cried Kenneth's mother, 'it's long past bedtime!'
"'Oh, I am not so tired as the eagles are!' said Kenneth. And Kenneth's mother wondered if he was talking in his sleep."
THE BOBOLINKS HAVE A TEA PARTY
"The other day," commenced daddy, "the bobolinks had an afternoon tea.
"The tea party was given for the meadow larks. The bobolinks are great friends of the meadow larks and they wanted to be the first this season to entertain them. Besides, most of the bobolinks had new summer homes and their colony was near a beautiful stream.
"You know the bobolinks always build their homes in the meadows--but they build very near a stream and their homes are always deep down in the long grass.
"They had all come to live in Waving Grassland for the summer--that is, all the bobolinks who always moved about together in the summer and winter--and many of their friends, the meadow larks, were on hand to greet them. A number of others were going to arrive in a few days--before the tea party.
"Now Waving Grassland was very beautiful country. The meadows were very large and the grass was so beautiful and so long that it always waved in the soft breezes, so that the bobolinks named their new summer place Waving Grassland.
"And so the bobolinks made all their preparations for the tea party. The guests arrived dressed up in their best new summer plumage. The meadow larks came first, as they were the guests of honor.
"The red-breasted grosbeak family were all there looking too lovely for words. And the bluejays, downy woodpeckers, the orioles, the thrush family, the chipping sparrows, the robins, the indigo birds--and even the shy vireos ventured forth. Of course, usually they hate parties, but they loved the stream nearby and the beautiful country the bobolinks were living in, and they thought at least once a year they ought to be a little bit sociable and friendly with their neighbors.
"After they had all chatted together--to us it would have sounded more like chirping--the bobolinks began to serve tea.
"They had spring water for their tea--the water from the cool stream which had a deep spring within it. And this tea they served in little moss-covered stones. That gave it the most delicious flavor, and all the birds asked the bobolinks where they had found such good tea. You know in birdland they don't ask each other where anything is bought, but where it is found! And the bobolinks told their secret.
"But as they were drinking cup after cup--or stoneful after stoneful--of tea, who should arrive but all the fairies!
"The birds greeted the fairies with their best songs--or their way of saying 'We're so glad to see you'--and the bobolinks trilled with joy because they had arranged this lovely surprise for their guests."
A HAPPY DAY IN BIRDLAND