YOURS WITH ALL MY HEART 



and restful it all is, after the roar and rattle 

 and stifling air of the city. Little Fairy is 

 as glad as we are.' 



Then we started down the slight decline, 

 through the tall cedars and budding su- 

 machs, toward the house. Just at that mo- 

 ment the flapping of wings sounded through 

 the cedars. I heard it first, and stood still, 

 with my little ears pricked high and one 

 foot uplifted. 



Papa and mamma looked quickly to the 

 right, and, through the feathery green, 

 caught sight of what I was staring at with 

 unblinking eyes. 



A great, glossy bird, standing there erect, 

 with long beak, broad white breast, wings 

 dappled with brown and black, and a dark 

 golden-green head and neck, which glistened 

 in the checkered sunlight. 



'Hist!' whispered mamma, stopping 

 short. 'There's a splendid wild goose. 

 Don't scare him - let us get a good look at 

 him.' 



He eyed us with great, fiery eyes, and, far 

 from being scared himself, he made up his 

 mind to give us a scare. What right had 

 these people, with that queer-looking little 



185 



