The Stoi^k. 



21 r 



the storks only adopt the form of birds he would speak, and then he would betray 

 when with us; but in the distant countries, everybody's secrets, because he hears and 

 whither they wend their way every autumn, sees everything. However, as it is, he 



they are human beings, and merely under- manages to give notice of any special oc- 

 go an annual transformation into storks on currence by chattering with his beak, 

 visiting our northern climes The Swabian These birds protect the house from light- 

 peasantry say that if a stork had a tongue ning and must therefore never be disturbed. 



