Robin, American 



When he thought the fire quite out, he went happily into 

 his den. 



A gray robin flying near had seen the white bear's work. 

 When she was quite certain he had gone away, she flew down 

 to the dying fire and examined it with her little sharp eyes 

 until she saw one clear spark. For a long time she fanned 

 this spark with her wings. Her soft gray breast was burned 

 to a deep red. Still she worked. Finally from the spark 

 she made a flame. Then to every hut in the Northland she 

 flew, and wherever for a moment she rested upon the ground, 

 a bright fire sprang up. Soon instead of one small fire, 

 many fires warmed the country. 



The white bear, angry and disappointed, could do nothing 

 but move far back into his cave and growl, for now he knew 

 the Northland would never be his. 



So do the people of the Northland love the robin and never 

 do they tire of telling the children how he obtained his red 

 breast. 



ADAPTED. 



SANDPIPER, SPOTTED 



I always look forward with pleasure to their coming 

 for they are to the water what swallows are to the air. 

 They fill a place that no other bird can fill, and leave a 

 painful void when they depart. 



ABBOTT. Birdland Echoes. 28 



Their flight is quite peculiar. With one quick stroke 

 of the wings they can propel themselves a long distance, 

 and, by repeating at intervals the single vibration, they 

 appear to be floating in air, as with motionless wing they 



127 



