A LUCKY MAGPIE 



44 So you've kept old Mag safe all this time," 

 I called out, as I came through the little croft 

 under the apple-trees, and caught sight of the 

 farmer sitting at his door and smoking his 

 evening pipe ; and not forgetting my duty as 

 became a midshipman in Her Majesty's Service, 

 I took off my cap and made three bows to the 

 magpie, whose wicker cage was hanging just 

 over the farmer's head. 



Farmer Reynardson and his magpie and I 

 had always been great friends. Ever since I 

 was a little fellow I had had a great liking for 

 the farmer's friendly face, and a still greater 

 reverence for his bird, for he never would let 

 me come within sight of it without making my 

 obeisance in due form. 



"It's a lucky magpie," he always said, "and 



L 2 



