Mourner the Dove and Cuckoo 



look for him. As soon as he found him Peter began 

 to tell what he had learned about Mourner the 

 Dove. 



"That's no news, Peter," interrupted Kitty. 

 "I know all about Mourner and his wife. They 

 are very nice people, though I must say Mrs. Dove 

 is one of the poorest housekeepers I know of. I 

 take it you never have seen her nest." 



Peter shook his head. "No," said he, "I 

 haven't. What is it like ?" 



Kitty the Catbird laughed. "It's about the 

 poorest apology for a nest I know of," said he. 

 "It is made of little sticks and mighty few of them. 

 How they hold together is more than I can under- 

 stand. I guess it is a good thing that Mrs. Dove 

 doesn't lay more than two eggs, and it's a wonder 

 to me that those two stay in the nest. Listen ! 

 There's Mourner's voice now. For one who is 

 so happy he certainly does have the mournfullest 

 sounding voice. To hear him you'd think he was 

 sorrowful instead of happy. It always makes me 

 feel sad to hear him." 



"That's true," replied Peter, "but I like to hear 

 him just the same. Hello ! Who's that ?" 



From one of the trees in the Old Orchard sounded 

 along, clear, " Kow-kow-kow-kow-kow-kow !" It 

 was quite unlike any voice Peter had heard that 

 spring. 



[257] 



