238 



CITIZEN BIRD 



" The wind whispered to the trees, 'Trouble, trouble ! 

 These warriors hate each other more than they love 

 their children. Hide them, O trees ! ' Then the trees 

 wliispered to the birds, ' Help the poor cliildren — 

 help, help ! ' And the birds said, ' They shall be turned 



into birds and 

 escape, if you 

 will make a 

 little fire, O 

 Avind, to delay the 

 warriors and ^\\q us 

 time.' 

 '' So the trees told tiie fire- 

 flies to light the dead leaves 

 that covered the ground ; 

 the w^ind breathed on tlie 

 fire, and soon the wood 

 was all aflame ! 



'' ' What birds do 

 you clioose to be, 

 that you may al- 

 ways live in 

 the forest to- 

 p-ether?' asked 

 tlie Bird Broth- 

 ers of the cliil- 

 dren. 'Answer quickly, for the time is short.' 



" ' I Avill be a large broAvn Sparrow,' said the girl ; 

 then none Avill trap me for my feathers.' 

 " ' And I too,' said the boy. 



" Suddenly they were no longer children. But there 

 was confusion, as tlie fire l)uriied nearer and nearer. 



Cardinal. 



