YOURS WITH ALL MY HEART 



four-footed creature, to come on his island, 

 where he had roosted about all winter, and 

 strutted around and around on the veran- 

 da, "monarch of all he surveyed," like 

 Robinson Crusoe. 



So up he flew with a great rushing of his 

 wide, strong wings, and a harsh, "Conk- 

 conk-conk!" through his yellow beak 

 and down he swooped, right in our faces. 



Papa whacked him with his umbrella, the 

 only thing he had, and it sounded as though 

 he was beating a feather-bed. As he landed 

 in the driveway he started for me with his 

 sharp beak wide open, his red tongue hissing 

 and darting out at me. 



I thought it, as people say, 



"Better far to run away, 

 And live to fight another day," 



than to give battle to so strange an enemy, 

 so I started down the hill, fast as my fleet 

 little feet would carry me, the huge bird, 

 with flapping wings, half flying, half running 

 and with outstretched beak, in close pursuit. 

 Dear mamma, regardless of her own dan- 

 ger, plucked handfuls of feathers from his 

 broad back in her efforts to restrain him; 

 and she gave a sharp cry of fear as he caught 

 186 



