THE LESSON A GOOSE STARTED 



I WELL remember the first time I learned that any 

 two kinds of birds were more alike than any other 

 two. It was a raw day early in March and my rheuma- 

 tism did not allow me to be out of doors. Naturally this 

 was a trial to me. It was raining in a desultory sort of 

 way and there were great pools of water wherever there 

 was not ice and slush. I was very impatient over the situa- 

 tion and was begging mother to let me go out of doors. 

 Finally, her work done for the time, she came over and 

 sat down by me and began to talk about the geese that 

 were playing out in the water. I remember I asked why 

 it was that they were having such a fine time while the 

 chickens were standing around, as much disgruntled and 

 disappointed with the weather as I. I could not see why 

 the geese should be swimming and having just the best 

 time possible while the chickens were humped up under 

 the old hay shed, looking as if they had lost their last 

 friend. I remember that while I felt sorry for the chickens, 

 my sympathies were with the geese, and I longed to get 

 out and paddle with them. 



Presently an old goose stuck her head under the water 

 and, kicking her feet up in the air, stood in this grotesque 

 position for some moments while the water bubbled up 

 around her neck. Mother explained that the geese belong 



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