TWO BIRDS THAT CAME BACK 107 
Tramp, tramp, came the feet up the stairs to the second 
hall, with the rhythm of a marching regiment. Then 
there was a pause and evidently some discussion, for, as 
Gray Lady went forward and opened the door at the 
head of the attic stairs, she heard Sarah Barnes’ voice 
say, “Why, it’s a big Crow and a little one; but how 
did they come in here? Don’t touch him, Tommy, he’ll 
bite you. Crows bite like everything when they get 
mad.” 
Then Tommy’s voice said. ‘‘ The big one’s a Crow, sure 
enough, but the little one couldn’t be any more’n mice’s 
little rats. It’s one of those queer new birds that had 
nests down in the Methodist Church steeple last spring; 
I went up with Eb Holcomb one day when he was fixing 
the bell-rope and I saw them, but nobody ’round here 
knows what they’re called — unless Gray Lady may.” 
Looking down, Gray Lady saw the odd pair in question 
and said to Goldilocks, “‘ Your two pets have managed to 
get in and‘are trapped between the top and bottom of 
the stairs. Whistle for them, dearie, for the children are 
waiting to come up.” 
Goldilocks gave two very good imitations of the quaver- 
ing call of a Crow, and then, using a little oddly shaped 
silver whistle that hung about her neck on a ribbon, gave 
a series of melodious whistles, when, to the surprise and 
delight of the children below, Crow and Starling (for this 
was the name of the smaller bird) immediately turned 
about and went upstairs, the Crow hopping and flopping, 
for one of its wings was deformed, and the Starling, as 
soon as it had room enough for a start, flying straight and 
true. When the children followed, they found the Crow 
