GOOD – NIGHT STORIES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 30, 6 February 1928, Page 11

GOOD - NIGHT STORIES.

DORIS MEETS A QUEER LITTLE HOUSEKEEPER. (Told by BLANCHE SILVER for PETER PAN.) Doris glanced up at the long-necked squashes dangling from the pole out in her Grandfather's back yard.

"Now what in the world did Grandpa put those things up there for I'd like to know," she mused. "That's about the "

"Think so," mused a squeaky voice at her side. Doris turned quickly. She knew who it was.

"Why, Squeedee, you dear!" she cried shaking the wee elfin's hand. "Goodness, but I'm glad you came, I'm dreadfully lonesome and don't know what to do with myself. I just spied those silly - looking squashes hanging from that pole and wondered why Grandpa had swung them up there."

Just then a pretty glossy blackbird sailed out of one of the openings and away into the sunlight.

"Why, that bird came out of there, didn't he?" laughed Doris. "It's a bird house as sure as I'm alive."

- "Certainly it is," chuckled Squeedee. "And if you like we'll go up and visit the little housekeeper."

This suited Doris, and up they flew to the little platfrom built under the hanging squashes.

Squeedee rapped gently on the side of the squash and a pretty little brown-

ish-black head poked out. "Good evening, Mamma Purple Martin," said Squeedee. "Doris and I came to pay you a visit." The little Mother bird hopped out on the platfrom and greeted them with a merry chirp. "Very glad to know you, Doris," she chirped. "We certainly are very grateful to your Grandpa for putting up these lovely houses for us. Daddy Martin and I made a rule to give an alarm every time we see a chicken hawk around. Between our screeching and your Grandfather's gun we soon chase them away. Then too we try to keep down the bugs and insects that would soon destroy the fruit. Peek into my little howse and see the youngsters." She hopped aside and Doris peeked in

at the happy family of four fluffy little! baby birds all cuddled down in a comfy little bed fast asleep. "Aren't they tho dearest things?" Dor* whispered. "I never saw a Purple Martin so closely before. But why in the world do they call you Purple?" "I've often wondered myself," chirped Mrs. Purple Martin glancing down at her brownish-black gown with its greyish under suit. "We certainly don't show much purple. Of course when you see Daddy Purple Martin, his suit is so glossy and black, in certain lights it does have a purplish tinge." '"I noticed that "when he flew away from the house a second ago," agreed Doris. "In certain lights his wing 3 did look purple. Oh, well, it's a pretty name and you both are mighty good-looking. Grandpa says you all have such a lovely soft, rippling, merry, song that he likes ta have you build near us."

'"Thanks," chirped Mrs. Purple Martin. By this time the youngsters hearing the talking thought their Daddy had returned with food, and every mouth opened wide calling for dinner, Mrs. Purple Martin had to excuse herself to see to her family, so Squeedee and Doris sailed down to the yard again and ran off toward the fields in search of new adventures.