Daddy's Bedtime Bird Stories

"Sparrows are supposed to be rather fond of fighting, aren't they, daddy?" asked Jack.

"They do seem to be considered crosser and to have more cranky natures than other birds. But perhaps it's because they're always around us, and they never have a quarrel that we don't see it. But really we ought to be very grateful to the sparrows, for we always have them with us."

"Yes; that's true," said Evelyn. "And they're plucky little creatures, too, never minding bad weather, not even the very worst. But do tell us more about the fight, daddy."

"Another little sparrow," continued daddy, "was furious when he saw the selfishness of the first sparrow. He completely lost his temper. He flew at the first little sparrow and hit him with his wings just as hard as ever he could.

"Then a number of sparrows came and joined in the fight. Some took the side of the first sparrow and some of the second sparrow.

"It really might have been quite a serious battle had not an old sparrow stepped in and pitched his voice way up in the air. He simply shrieked at the sparrows.

"'Stop; stop at once!' he cried.

"All the sparrows stopped at once, for they were very much afraid of the old sparrow. He was quite their leader, and, though he was a very jolly old soul and would enter into all their sports, still he was quite strict.

"'Aren't you ashamed of yourselves, all of you,' he continued—'you, little first sparrow, for being so selfish, and you, little second one, for losing your temper, and the rest of you for joining in?'

"And all the little sparrows hung their heads in shame, and they then and there promised the old sparrow that they would never again be greedy and selfish nor would they fight.

"The old sparrow then looked very much relieved, for it always made him very unhappy when the sparrows were naughty."

THE SUCCESSFUL CONCERT OF THE CHICKADEES

"Then the concert began. First one little chickadee sang a very sweet little solo, which won a great deal of applause.

"The choruses were enjoyed tremendously, too, and the refrain of 'chickadee-dee-dee' was lovely, the other birds thought.

"But, as you can imagine, the chickadee knew that it was the fashion to have special features at concerts or at least one special feature.

"So as a surprise, just before the last number, which was a chorus of all the chickadees, a special feature was announced by the leader of the concert.

"'We are to have,' said the chickadee leader, 'a different number from any other on the program.'

"At this all the birds looked at one another with astonishment.

"'We are to have,' the chickadee leader continued, 'a ballet.'

"Now, the birds knew that in 'really real' grand opera there is usually a ballet, but to have one at their concert was wonderful.

"But before they had time to talk about it out came all the little chickadees, dancing and hopping and wearing little wreaths of flowers about their necks. Each carried a little flower in his beak, and every flower was of a different color.

"For some time they danced in and out of a little circle which they made. They received constant applause.

"It was something new and different to have a ballet dance at the concert. The birds were very much impressed with the chickadees for being so up to date.

"The chickadees were delighted that their concert had been such a success, for, as a matter of fact, they had been rather nervous in getting up a concert when the other birds had given such beautiful ones during the spring. They knew that their voices were not at all lovely, but the birds had wanted to hear them, and now the chickadees were very, very happy."

THE COLONY OF STARLINGS GIVE A BALL

"I don't believe we know what starlings are. We may have seen them and not have known what they were," said Jack.

"Starlings," continued daddy, "are about the same size as robins. They are black, or they appear to be black. In reality their feathers look different colors in different lights. But they usually appear black, as, of course, they don't come so very near to people. They are not nearly so tame as the robins. They have yellow beaks. And another thing about them is that they are very fond of their own kind. They travel always in huge flocks, for they love to be together.

"But to continue about the ball. The starlings said that they would like to give a party, and the robins thought it was an excellent plan.

"So invitations were sent out to all the other birds around. And they all accepted with great pleasure.

"Ever so many were invited. There were the chickadees, the song sparrows, the chipping sparrows, the orioles, the thrushes, and even the catbirds were asked.

"Of course, great preparations were made for the ball. The robins said that they would give the music, for, of course, the starlings couldn't have a ball without music.

"And you should have seen the birds dancing. They danced until they were completely out of breath. The robins sang lovely waltzes and they whistled for the jigs.

"Then, when the starlings thought that their guests had had enough of the dancing, they suggested that they should all have some supper. They had their supper served in little moss cups for each bird, and it did taste so good out of such a dainty, pretty cup."

"I suppose they had little worms, didn't they?" asked Evelyn.

"Yes, indeed," said daddy, "but that is what they think is delicious."

ROBIN REDBREAST'S AND MISS ROBIN'S WEDDING

"Now Mr. Robin Redbreast for a long time had admired Miss Robin and thought she was the most beautiful bird he'd ever seen. And so he began to get his valentine ready 'way back in the autumn when the trees had turned red. He would fly from tree to tree and spend hours each day looking for the most beautiful and perfect leaf, and he wanted it to be a real crimson color. At last he found it and put it away in his nest, very carefully covering it over with moss and straw to keep it well protected and so it wouldn't fade or shrivel up at the ends. Then a few days before Valentine's day he got a little stick which he stuck through the red leaf, which he had pecked off into the shape of a heart, and this was the valentine he sent to Miss Robin. Of course the stick was to mean that his heart had been pierced by love.

"Mr. Robin Redbreast sent his valentine by a messenger, and then he waited what seemed hours to him before he went to call on Miss Robin, and it seemed hours to Miss Robin, too, who had smoothed her feathers so many times.

"At last Miss Robin heard him singing the most beautiful song, with such high notes it seemed as if they almost reached the sky. And, oh, how proud Miss Robin was to feel that such a beautiful singer was to be her mate!

"In a few moments Mr. Robin Redbreast came in sight and stood before her by the brook. Miss Robin was all of a flutter with joy and nervousness.

"'I've come,' said Mr. Robin Redbreast, 'to ask you if you'll be my wife and come to my new nest in the apple tree.'

"And then he sang another little song.

"'I would love to, I would love to!' chirped Miss Robin.

"'We'll be married to-day, then,' said Mr. Robin Redbreast, 'for I've invited the guests.'

"Then he gave a long call. At that, from far and near, countless robins flew down and hovered around.

"Mr. Robin Redbreast and his bride flew to the branch of a nearby tree, and all the others perched about them singing such merry, happy songs.

"And then they all went back to Mr. Robin Redbreast's nest, where a banquet awaited them of fat, juicy worms."

THE TAME CANARY BIRD AND HIS MISTRESS

"Every morning, bright and early, he wakes up and begins to sing the most beautiful songs. He sings so steadily that Elizabeth says it is a surprise to her that he doesn't burst his little throat.

"After Elizabeth gets up she always gives him a little piece of apple before she begins her breakfast. She puts it on her finger between two wires of the cage, and he hops right over on his little bar and takes it from her finger.

"The next thing is his bath, which he takes soon after breakfast. He loves that. He spatters the water about and has just the best time in the world. He acts as if it were the most wonderful game. After his bath he has a treat of delicious lettuce to eat, and then he sits in the sun and smoothes down his feathers.

"In his cage there is a swing, and he swings on it and hops from one perch to the other. In fact, he has a fine romp. He usually does this right after his bath, for then he feels so energetic.

"In the afternoons Elizabeth lets him out of his cage. Of course she sees first that there are no windows up or doors ajar before she opens the door of the cage. When the cage door is open Bubsie flies out and makes a tour of the room. How he does enjoy flying around and perching back of the different pictures and on the window-sill. The thing he likes more than anything else is to play with Elizabeth. He perches on her shoulder and walks around on her hand. And he loves to tease her too, for if there are any flowers in the room he will fly over to them, peck at them and begin munching at them. Then he won't let Elizabeth catch him. He thinks this a huge joke, and he always flies to some high spot in the room and begins to sing.

"Elizabeth told me any number of tales of the tricks that he does, but she told me to invite you two children to come and see her, and then she promises you that Bubsie will entertain you."

"Oh, that's fine!" said Evelyn. "Do you suppose we can go to-morrow?"

"Yes, I think so," said daddy, "for, as a matter of fact, I believe I told her to expect you both to-morrow."

"Hurrah!" shouted the children. "You always think of such nice things for us to do."

THE PET BIRD OF THE WARD

"This little boy," daddy continued, "was in the bed nearest the door I passed, and I noticed him particularly because on a table near his bed was a large cage containing a small yellow canary bird. I asked the nurse if pets were allowed in the ward and why this little boy especially wanted a bird. She told me that the little boy was an orphan and had been brought into the hospital one day, having been run over by a motorcycle. He was very much injured, and they expected he would die any minute. He was brave and scarcely moaned, but whenever the nurse would stop by his bed he would beg her to send for his bird, which was at the orphans' home. The nurse gently would explain that pets were not allowed in the hospital. One night his fever became very high, and in his rambling talk he begged for his canary. The doctor, who was a very kind-hearted man, told the nurse to send for the bird, as the little boy would not live more than a few days, and if the bird would give him such great happiness they might be able to break a rule in his case.

"So the bird was sent for, and instead of dying the little boy began to grow better each day, and the bird's singing entertained and gave pleasure to the other patients in the ward. The bird was very tame, and when the little boy opened the cage door he would hop out and over the bed-quilt and perch on the little boy's hand.

"The canary made friends with every one. He was not at all afraid of the grave doctors who came in every little while to see how the sick people were getting along. Especially was he friendly with the little boy's nurse, who fed him lumps of sugar.

"I stepped inside the room and asked the little boy how long he had had the bird. 'Oh,' he said, 'a lady who came to visit the orphans' home gave him to me when I was ill in bed with mumps! That was six years ago, and he has been such a friend to me ever since. His name is Mumps, too, as I thought his chest looked as fat as my cheeks, and the name has always clung to him. He adores flowers, and whenever a patient has any, Mumps flies over and pulls off the petals and eats them.'"

"Oh," said Evelyn as daddy paused, "I wish I could have a canary!"

"Well, maybe I'll bring you one to-morrow," replied daddy.

"And I'll help you feed him," said Jack.

THE EAGLE'S PRIDE AS THE BIRD OF FREEDOM

"I hardly think I had better tell a story to-night," said daddy, "for you two ought to get some sleep. I am afraid by the time I finish you may suggest that instead of it being the time for going to bed it is the time for getting up."

"Oh, no," said both the children. "Please tell us a little story."

"Yes," said daddy, "I don't believe I can let a single night go by without a story, not even the Fourth of July eve.

"Well, once upon a time—"

"Daddy," chimed in Jack, "I never heard you begin a story that way before."

"You see, this is a special occasion, so I am allowed these favors.

"But, to continue, there was once a great big eagle who was flying overhead on the Fourth of July, and when he saw all the firecrackers going off and heard all the noise and saw the parade with the flags flying and the band playing, he said:

"'To think that I belong to the family that is taken as the representative of all that. I mean freedom and liberty and all those wonderful things. My great-great-grandfathers may not have fought for freedom as the great-great-grandfathers of the little boys and girls who are to-day firing off firecrackers did, but they flew overhead and said to the winds, which whispered it to the soldiers:

"'"The eagles are free—you must be free." And the soldiers whispered back to the winds:

"'"Yes, as the eagles are free in the air above, so will we be free on this land below."'

"So, no wonder the eagle is more than proud of being the bird of freedom and the emblem of the United States."

WHAT THE BIRDS THOUGHT OF THE FOURTH OF JULY

"You see, some of the older birds knew what the Fourth of July meant. They thought it was splendid to belong to such a fine, free country during all the other days of the year, but on the Fourth of July they did not feel so patriotic. They would have liked it very much if all the little boys and girls had sung songs, but the noise of the firecrackers they thought was most disturbing.

"There were no places where they could go that they didn't find children with firecrackers. Even in front of the farm-houses the children seemed to have firecrackers enough to last them for years.

"The old birds decided that if they went way off in the woods for the day they might get away from all the noise, so they planned to start before dawn. They went, but at the first place they thought of stopping and giving a nice little bird concert, they found a picnic party of children. They waited for a moment until the children unpacked their baskets. But the goodies were not nearly so numerous as the firecrackers.

"So the birds moved on again, and again they found a picnic party and were at a loss what to do.

"The old birds were grumbling and making every one around feel just as 'grumbly' as they were, when a little song sparrow, who had been keeping very quiet during all the fuss, said:

"'Now, look here, I think it is pretty mean of us to grumble while all the little boys and girls are having such a good time. It is right for them to be patriotic, and we should not grumble about the noise they make one day in the year, when we are singing fit to burst our throats every morning just at sunrise. Besides, we should be more appreciative, for we love this free air, and we should feel proud that we can fly about and enjoy it. And, above everything else, think of the times in the spring when those little girls and boys threw crumbs to us when it was chilly, and how often in the hot days of summer we find little drinking-tins in the trees filled with cool water.'

"And all the birds suddenly thought how perfectly right the song sparrow was, and they gave their concert, pretending that the big cannon crackers were huge chords of music accompanying their solos and choruses."

MR. NIGHTINGALE'S NEW FRIEND MR. BLACKBIRD

"Soon a very fine bird—black as black could be, and very shiny, just as if he'd polished his wings with shoe-blacking—perched on a bush beside the one where Mr. Nightingale was resting.

"'Did you come to hear us sing or talk or scream?' asked the blackbird.

"Mr. Nightingale sang a little opening song and then began to talk to the blackbird.

"'Mr. Blackbird,' he said, 'you're a handsome fellow, and you're very smart. I've heard a secret about your family. Many have done what you will do. You must try. That's all.' And again Mr. Nightingale sang a song.

"'What do you mean, Mr. Nightingale? Your song is lovely, but your talk is very, very queer.' And Mr. Blackbird shook his head sadly.

"'Well, I mean you to come to my nest. It's too big for me. It's fitted out perfectly—all the latest improvements—fresh water to drink supplied by my water man, Mr. Showers, and new worms each day my children bring to my nest in plenty of time for breakfast—and our rooms are both shady and sunny. In fact, it's a very superior home. But in the house nearby lives a dear old lady and I want her to be given a treat. She has gone away on a visit and when she comes back I want you to be singing duets with me.'

"'What?' shouted the blackbird. 'I'm to sing with you?'

"'Most certainly. Many blackbirds have copied our voices so that you wouldn't be able to tell us apart if you couldn't see us. The nice old lady will hear our voices and think that there are two of me! When she sees that one is you, she'll think you're a smart bird—that's what she'll think. Besides, I want a companion and I like you.'

"'Well, I never heard so many reasons in all my life,' said the blackbird. 'But I'll go just as soon as I get my suitcase packed. There are several little delicacies from the bay I'd like to bring along.' And Mr. Blackbird stopped to put some red berries and other goodies in his straw bag. Then off they went, and Mr. Blackbird really did learn to sing just like Mr. Nightingale."

MR. PLAIN SPARROW CALLS ON DUCKS

"'If there's anything in this world I hate,' he said, 'it's pretending to be what a creature is not.' And so he called himself by the name of Mr. Plain Sparrow, and his wife was Mrs. Plain Sparrow, and his children were the Plain Sparrow Children.

"'I think,' he said, 'that I will take a walk or a fly to the duck pond in the park nearby. Yes, it seems to me that's an excellent scheme. I would like to see those ducks, for they're right smart creatures, and I like to hear their funny quack-quack talk.'

"'What are you up to, ducks?' he called, as he flew over the pond, and then perched on a small bush that was at one side.

"'We're well,' said the ducks. 'We're enjoying a cooling drink between swims. Would you like to join us? It's just tea time.'

"'Tea time, eh?' said Mr. Plain Sparrow. 'And would you give a fellow a good, fat worm in place of bread and butter and cake?'

"'Quack-quack! ha, ha!' laughed the ducks. 'We don't like bread and butter and cake. But we can't get the worm for you just now, as we're not very good at digging on such a hot day!'

"'Well, then, how about my digging for a couple of them, and then joining all you nice ducks when you're ready to have your tea?'

"'Splendid idea,' quacked the ducks. And off went Mr. Plain Sparrow to a soft place in the earth where he thought there would be some good worms.

"Pretty soon he came back with some fine ones, and he sat on his perch and ate them, while the ducks nibbled at their food, and had drinks of pond water, which they called tea. Mr. Plain Sparrow flew down and took sips of water by the side of the pond, and in one very shallow place he had some nice showerbaths while the ducks were having swims. And before he left he told the ducks what a good time he had had, and how nice and cool he felt.

"'Well, you're so friendly we're glad you came,' quacked the ducks once again."

FARMER'S SCARECROW PROTECTS A CORN-FIELD

"'I don't quite know,' said Black Crown Crow, 'it's a question which is very hard to decide.'

"'But we thought you had chosen a special spot,' said one of the brownies.

"Black Crown Crow looked very sad, and his black wings seemed to droop. 'It's that guest I never asked. He's causing all the trouble. How very rude it is of folks to come to a feast who aren't invited, and to arrive before us, too. It's very e-x-a-s-p-e-r-a-t-i-n-g!'

"'Who is he?' shouted the brownies, for every little while Black Crown Crow had gone ahead and then had come back. In these little trips he had seen right in the center of the corn-field a man—a real man, he thought, with a hat and a coat and trousers and boots—and carrying something which he couldn't quite make out. It was either a great huge stick—or worse still—it was a gun. He shivered whenever he thought of that awful word gun.

"'Caw-caw,' again shrieked Black Crown Crow, 'it's a man and he has a gun—I'm sure it's a gun. Now the rudeness of him! As if we wanted a man and a gun at our corn feast!'

"'Oh, it was to have been a corn feast, and now the man has stopped it,' laughed one of the brownies. 'Well, such a joke! But to show you how nice we'll be when we're here ready for a party which can't take place, we'll give a nice party ourselves.'

"And the brownies scampered about a little grove near the corn-field, and there they made a bonfire over which they cooked some corn-meal which they had carried with them in their bags. They knew all along, ever since they'd started, where the crows wanted them to go for the feast, and they also knew that the farmer had made that scarecrow in his corn-field to frighten off Black Crown Crow and his followers.

"The brownies made a fine feast, but how they did chuckle among themselves that the pole dressed up as a man had succeeded in saving the corn for the people of the farm-house."

THE BRAVE BROWN SPARROWS IN WINTER

"I watched them for quite a time. There was one sparrow who looked the leader. He did most of the chirping and was apparently telling all the others what they must do and giving all sorts of directions. He chirped almost constantly for ten minutes, and then he flew down from the tree and hopped along the ground. He picked up crumb after crumb, and then when he had as many as he could carry in his beak he flew up in the tree again and left them on a branch where there was a kind of hole in which to put them. He was evidently showing all the other birds just what to do, for in a minute or two any number of them flew down to the ground and began to pick up crumbs.

"It was wonderful to see how many they could find, for I myself could hardly see any, and all the time he kept chirping to the others and telling them what to do.

"This kept up for some time, for the birds would fly back and forth, just picking up goodies and then putting them up in the tree. Meantime a lot of other birds who had stayed up in the tree were fixing them on the branch and dividing them all evenly."

"Didn't they eat any of them?" asked Evelyn.

"Yes. After quite awhile they all flew back to the tree again, and once more they huddled together and had the most marvelous meal. You see, it was their dinner time, and they all had it together at the same time to make it more sociable. From all the cries of joy and the noise I fancy they were having a pretty good time of it and enjoying themselves immensely. In fact, I think they almost forgot how cold it was."

"I think it's wonderful," said Evelyn, "how well the birds can look after themselves, for it must be pretty hard sometimes, especially in the winter."

"Yes," said daddy, "it is, but these birds seemed so happy together and to be having such a good time. After dinner was over they all chased each other from one tree to another in the park and played tag and had a beautiful time. So I think really birds and animals are smart and brave to be able to look after themselves and their little ones so well."

WHAT THE RAINBOW THINKS OF THE WORLD

"Of course, the fairy queen had told the king of the clouds that she didn't want him to send his army of raindrops to the earth—for an army would make it pour too hard and they couldn't have any fun at the luncheon. She just wanted some of the big, big drops to come down and fill the little stones she had at the places for the birds so that they could have delicious water at her party—but she didn't want to make it so wet they'd get their beautiful feathers drenched—just a nice little shower was what she wanted.

"The king of the clouds had promised, and he had told the raindrops just what to do and just how many could go down on the earth.

"The birds enjoyed the delicious luncheon the fairies gave them, and, of course, they loved their fresh drinks of water.

"'Now for our surprise,' shouted the fairies, after the luncheon was over. 'We're to have two famous guests to-day. This is to be a really real day! And we're to have them both at the same time—and we're to have another treat, too. Guess, birds, what are we going to have? Guess, guess, guess!' For the fairies were so excited they kept repeating themselves over and over again.

"But before the birds had time to do more than twitter and chirp among themselves as to what the great surprise was going to be, who should appear, right along with the raindrops, but Mr. Sun, and then over a hill came the most beautiful rainbow with all the glorious colors the fairies admire so much.

"And then you should have heard the singing of the birds. Every one of them had a glorious voice, and the chorus was the loveliest the fairies had ever heard. As for Mr. Sun, he beamed and shone with might and main.

"'Well, hello, raindrops,' he said. 'I'm mighty glad to see you. It's not often we meet, but the fairy queen can make all of us friendly—even the sun and the rain.'

"And the raindrops came on down to the earth very gently, but without stopping, while back of it all the rainbow leaned down over the hill and whispered:

"'Isn't this a wonderful world? There are fairies, birds, the sun, fresh water to drink. I'm so glad I am here.'"

EAGLES AND RAVENS

"And, as you can imagine, when Brother Black Raven heard the eagles boasting he knew it was high time to begin and frighten them.

"So he called all the ravens together. Some of them were having their naps, but as soon as Brother Black Raven called them, up they got in a great hurry, spread their wings and drilled a little bit just like soldiers. Only instead of marching they flew.

"As General Raven came near the nest of the white-tailed eagles, he said in a very queer, croaking sort of voice:

"'Good-morning!' That was rather mean of him to say, for, of course, he didn't really wish them a 'Good-morning.'

"'Do you want to fight?' asked General Raven.

"Still not a sound from the eagles. There was a slight fluster and trembling, which the ravens could hear and which made them grin with delight, but the eagles never said a word. They didn't even look at the ravens! For they were so frightened they didn't dare look at them, and they kept thinking, 'Oh, won't those awful ravens and their ugly old general go away?' The eagles, of course, thought the ravens were very ugly because they were so afraid of them.

"'For the last time, do you want to fight us, eh?' asked General Raven. And still the eagles said not a word—nor made a sound. 'Well, let me say then for all of us,' said General Raven, 'that we think you're very cowardly, and we heard you talking before we came of your bravery. We wouldn't fight you because you're afraid of us, but you'll have to admit it after this,' and with a deep chuckle off went General Raven and his followers.

"The eagles did not go on boasting, but they were very contented that the ravens had gone away!"

THE EAGLES WHO WERE ALWAYS STILL