VII 

 CORBIE 



Corbie's great-great-grandfather ruled a large flock 

 from his look-out throne on a tall pine stump, where he 

 could see far and wide, and judge for his people where 

 they should feed and when they should fly. 



His great-grandfather was famous for his collections 

 of old china and other rare treasures, having lived in the 

 woods near the town dump, where he picked up many 

 a bright trinket, chief among which was an old gold- 

 plated watch-chain, which he kept hidden in a doll's 

 red tea-cup when he was not using it. 



His grandfather was a handsome fellow, so glistening 

 that he looked rather purple when he walked in the sun- 

 shine ; and he had a voice so sweet and mellow that any 

 minstrel might have been proud of it, though he seldom 

 sang, and it is possible that no one but Corbie's grand- 

 mother heard it at its best. He was, moreover, a merry 

 soul, fond of a joke, and always ready to dance a jig, 

 with a chuckle, when anything very funny happened 

 in crowdom. 



As for the wisdom and beauty of his grandmothers all 

 the way back, there is so much to be said that, if I once 

 began to tell about them, there would be no space left 

 for the story of Corbie himself. 



100 



