A Lucky Magpie 155 



the big branch down far, and as I came to the 

 ground, I sprained my ankle badly. 



" However, there was the bird all safe, and 

 that was the great thing. Nelly helped me 

 home, and Mag was put into a wicker cage we 

 had ready for him. Of course we got scolded, 

 but I was in too great pain to mind, and Nelly 

 was used to it from her mother, so we got off 

 pretty well. 



" Of course, too, I couldn't go to school, and 

 Mag was my companion all day long. He had 

 a tremendous appetite, and it was as much as 

 I could do to find food for him. If I let him 

 out of his cage he would follow me about, 

 opening his bill and crying for food ; and at 

 night he slept outside my bedroom window. I 

 had never had a pet before, and I got to love 

 that bird better than anything in the world, 

 except Nelly; and, indeed, I'm not sure that 

 Nelly was not a bit jealous of him those few 

 weeks." 



" / should have been," said Mrs. Reynardson. 



" Of course you would, my dear," said her 

 husband. " Men were deceivers ever, as they 



