144 THE BROOK BOOK 



I once had such a treasure and cherished it until 

 I learned the secret of the whistle -maker's art. 

 He next places the knife edge about half an inch 

 back from the end of the mouth-piece and cuts 

 straight toward the center of the branch, about 

 one-fourth the way through. A three-cornered 

 piece is now cut out, and the chip falls to the 

 ground unheeded. 



When this is finished the Boy's eye runs along 

 the stick with a calculating squint. The knife edge 

 is placed at the middle, then moved a short dis- 

 tance towards the mouthpiece. With skilful hand 

 he cuts through the bark in a perfect circle round 

 the stick. While we watch in fascinated silence, 



he takes the 

 .■■'^,:' v'"',rf^.f'^,-— ., ., 7."#^ knife by the 

 - -= " ' ^ — ^=*^- ■ ^^ blade and rest- 



ing the unfin- 

 ished whistle 

 on his knee he 

 strikes firmly 

 but gently the 

 part of the stick between the ring and the mouth- 

 piece. Only the wooden part of the handle 

 touches the bark. He goes over and over it 

 until every spot on its surface has felt his light 

 blow. Now he lays the knife aside and, grasping 

 the stick with a firm hand below the ring in the 

 bark, with his right hand he holds the pounded 

 end. He tries it with a careful twist. It sticks. 

 Back to his knee it goes and the tap, tap, begins 

 again. When he twists it again, it slips, and the 



A WILLOW WHISTLE 



