THE STOKY WE LOVE BEST 117 



others were safely housed — was the faithful little 

 mother. We knew her because her wings were frayed 

 and worn by her many flights and severe toil. In vain 

 would the voices of the coming May call her to a life 

 of sunshine and blue sky, for her poor wings could 

 carry her but a little way, and she would never again 

 gather the pollen from willing flowers. But there she 

 was, still on guard, still yielding the last energies of 

 her ebbing life in unselfish devotion to her home and 

 family. 



