A Swallow and One Who Isn't 



"Tut, tut, tut, tut ! I do believe Skimmer is 

 jealous," cried Jenny Wren, who had happened 

 along just in time to hear Skimmer's last remarks. 



"Nothing of the sort," declared Skimmer, 

 growing still more indignant. "I'd like to know 

 what there is about Sooty the Chimney Swift 

 that could possibly make a Swallow jealous." 



Jenny Wren cocked her tail up in that saucy 

 way of hers and winked at Johnny Chuck. "The 

 way he can fly," said she softly. 



"The way he can fly!" sputtered Skimmer. 

 "The way he can fly ! Why, there never was a 

 day in his life that he could fly like a Swallow. 

 There isn't any one more graceful on the wing 

 than I am, if I do say so. And there isn't any one 

 more ungraceful than Sooty." 



Just then there was a shrill chatter overhead 

 and all looked up to see Sooty the Chimney Swift 

 racing through the sky as if having the very best 

 time in the world. His wings would beat furiously 

 and then he would glide very much as you or I 

 would on skates. It was quite true that he wasn't 

 graceful. But he could twist and turn and cut 

 up all sorts of antics, such as Skimmer never 

 dreamed of doing. 



"He can use first one wing and then the other, 

 while you have to use both wings at once," per- 

 sisted Jenny Wren. "You couldn't, to save your 

 [109] 



