THE LONE FISHER 



ments were prompted by idle curiosity, while hunger and 

 warmth called them the other way. 



After their first view of the great outside world, where 

 all good things to eat came from — a world so airy and green 

 and beautiful — their dreams of a hf e there were many. More 

 and more often they came to the opening of the passageway 

 to feast their eyes on the beauty before them, and to breathe 

 the cool, fresh air. Nothing but fear held them hi the old 

 home now. 



The tired mother, worn and thin from work and re- 

 sponsibility, felt sure that they were now old enough to light- 

 en her labors by taking care of themselves, so she decided to 

 conquer their foolish fears. She did not feed them so often 

 now, but allowed them to grow hungry enough to. brave al- 

 most any danger to satisfy the craving within them. Hunger 

 is a wonderful inspiration sometimes. 



With fear warning him back and hunger beckoning him 

 on, the bravest took the first flight. His very indecision 

 decided the matter for him as he stood on the threshold, a lit- 

 tle farther out than he had ever been before ; trying to make 

 up his little mind which way to go, he lost his balance, and 

 it was done. Without conscious effort the baby wings went 

 up and down, little more than enough to break the fall, and 

 before he loiew it he was on the opposite side of the road. 



BcAvildered he looked about. The beautiful green grass 

 was all around him, and the cool, soft, moist ground imder 

 him — so different from the hard, dry earth to which he was 

 accustomed. And how different the odors were, too! Noth- 

 ing fishy about the smell of this place, but, instead, the sweet 

 odor of purple flags, and growing grasses, and fresh green 

 willows. 



Of course, he did not realize all this at first, but it came 



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