STATELY MISS SWAN 
79 
fully. “Do you think that’s really true?” 
she asked. 
“Of course it is!” exclaimed Tommie, turn¬ 
ing a hand spring. “Why, of course it is. 
My mother says it is and she heard it from 
some great human who was a scholar, so 
it must be true.” 
“And do you have to stand on your head 
and run and scream and do all those things 
to be cheerful?” 
“Of course you do,” said Tommie scorn¬ 
fully, “else how could people know how 
cheerful you are?” 
Miss Swan was puzzled. She wanted a 
cheerful old age just as badly as anyone, 
but all her life long she had been very, very 
quiet and dignified. Her mother had taught 
her that this was the way young Bird ladies 
should act. No where was Tommie Specks 
standing on his head, turning handsprings 
and screaming at the top of his voice and 
telling her that if she didn’t do those things 
she couldn’t have a cheerful old age! Why, 
