BIRD STORIES 



him a stately poise of pride even as he rested. It could 

 not have been the honor men had bestowed upon him; 

 for, although that was very great, he knew nothing 

 about it. 



Soldiers had gone into battle for freedom and right, 

 bearing the picture of Uncle Sam on their banners. Vet- 

 erans had walked in Memorial Day parades, while over 

 their gray heads floated the symbol of Uncle Sam and 

 the Stars and Stripes. Yes, the people of a great and 

 noble land, reaching from a sea on the east to a sea on 

 the west, had honored Uncle Sam by choosing him for 

 the emblem of their country. His picture was stamped 

 on their paper money, and ornamented one side of the 

 coins that canie from the mint, with the words, ^^In God 

 We Trust," on the other side. Above all other creatures 

 of this great land he had been honored; and could he 

 have understood, he might well have been justly proud 

 of this tribute. 



But as it was, perhaps his emotions were centred only 

 on his family; for his home was shared by his mate and 

 two young sons. He bent his white head to look down at 

 his twins. They were such hungry rascals and needed 

 such a deal of care ! They had needed care, indeed, ever 

 since the day their little bodies had begun to form in the 

 two bluish white eggs their mother had laid in the nest. 

 They had stayed inside those shells for a month; and 



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