224 BEAUTIFUL BIRDS 
wear ostrich-feathers. Of course, no woman whose 
heart the wicked little demon had ot frozen would 
ever wear any other kind. 
But there are not going to be frozen-hearted 
women in the world any more, now, because their 
little children will soon have thawed all their hearts, 
and the Goddess of pity is just beginning to wake 
up again. So now, ask your dear, dear mother to 
make just one more promise, just one more which 
will be better than all the others she has made. 
Of course she could not be expected to make it 
quite at first, but now, after all that you have told 
her, I think she will. Just go to her and throw 
your arms round her neck, and whisper: ‘‘ Mother, 
promise not to wear any feathers, except the beautiful 
ostrich-feathers that you look so J/ovely in.” As 
soon as she has promised, then all the beautiful 
birds in the world (and that means all the birds, 
for all birds are beautiful) will be saved, and it is 
you and the other little children who will have saved 
them. So, of course, you must keep on saying 
‘“Promise”’ till she does. 
Printed by BALLANTYNE, Hanson & Co. 
Edinburgh & London 
