JWttcti atro atiottt TSTotiftdifl ii3 



grandpa?" asked a chorus of impatient 

 voices, ** it sounds so much better." 



" It was phthisic, when I was hatched," 

 squawked the old grackle, " and I guess 

 it is phthisic now. I don't see but we 

 are just as wheezy now as we were then. 

 For myself I want to see our voices im- 

 proved. I would like to see the family 

 ranked among the sweet singers. Why, 

 I think I could be a lark if I had the 



voice." 



This confession from the old grackle 

 brought a shout of mirth from the tree. 



" Get an oil-can and oil grandpa's 

 throat," piped an old female grackle. 



" Guess it would take more than that," 

 said the chairman, gravely, when quiet 

 reigned again. " I am afraid that the 

 grackle family will never be called good 

 singers. We must be content with our 

 wonderful plumage, which I think I may 



