298 NATURE-STUDY REVIEW 



shame," at which the flamingo, blushing a deep scarlet all over, 

 retired into the background. 



The swan fearing its turn was coming next, turned white 

 with fear, but the fairy only cast a reproachful look at him, saying, 

 "Glide on proud swan, but at your last moment you will realize 

 the treasure you have lost." 



The peacock hoping to dazzle the queen by his grandeur was 

 slowly turning his wide-spread tail before her, but she only pointed 

 with disdain to the foot from which she had rescued the sparrow, 

 and the peacock looking down immediately dropped his plumage. 



"Thus ever shall it be with you," said the Queen. "The re- 

 membrance of your cruel act shall bring down your pride." "And 

 to you proud bird of paradise shall be added nothing but discor- 

 dant tones. You already have enought to feed your self-conceit." 



Then touching the poor little sparrow with her delicate wand, 

 it immediately opened its little beak and poured forth such a 

 melodious lay that the Fairy herself was delighted. 



Hearing this the other small birds who had kept at a respectful 

 distance, lost all fear and perched confidingly on the Fairy's head 

 and shoulders uttering their joy in all the varied songs we now hear 

 from birds on a beautiful spring morning. 



And when they had sung their sweetest thanks to the kind 

 fairy and the little sparrow had given the grand finale with its 

 "sweet, sweet, sweet," promising to care for and protect one 

 another, they went back to their homes, a joy to themselves and a 

 delight to the world forever. 



Thus we see that pride is its own destroyer, and humility ob- 

 tains its own reward. 



O wise little birds, how do ye know 



The way to go 

 Southward and northward, to and fro? 



Far up in the ether piped they, 



"We but obey 

 One who calleth us far away." 



—H. McE. Kimball 



