SHE NEVER CAME BACK

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2951, 5 January 1912, Page 7

SHE NEVER CAME BACK

The sun was just peeping over the hills, the leaves on the trees stirred gently, and a sleepy voice among the branches piped "Mother, I am so hungry. When may we have something to eat ?" "Yes, mother dear," came a chorus of voices, '"we are so hungry. May we have some breakfast ?"

"Yes, my dears," replied the little brown mother bird, you shall have something just as soon as I can go out and get it."

Poor little mother ! She had five hungry mouths to fill. But they were a happy family. Soon each of them would be able to fly and get his own breakfast. "Oh, mother," cried out the little ones, "you said you were going to teach Bright Eyes to fly to-day." "Yes," said the mother, '"I am. When I return, and we have eaten." "Good-bye, mother dear !" cried

the birdies, as she kissed each of them before leaving. "I'll return soon, children," and away she flew as happy as could be. A little boy stood by the roadside. He had a stone in his hand. "Oh, I see you !" he cried to the little brown feathered thing, and up whizzed the stone. There was a soft flutter, and down fell the poor mother bird with h?r brave little heart beating its last. "Oh, oh, oh !" cried the birdies. '"Why doesn't mother come ? We are 60 hungry." They waited until the sun was very high. "Oh !" they cried. What is keeping our dear mother so long ?" The sun went down in the west, and still she had not returned. Poor little birdies ! How they cried ! At last Bright Eyes, who was the strong* est, said she would try to fly and find mother. But poor little Bright Eyes fell over the edge of the nest •sd lay very still upon the ground. She never opened her bright little eyes again. Then, one by one, the others grew too weak to cry any more, and they tucked their little heads underneath their wings and lay quiet in the nest. They never woke again. The little boy who caused all this trouble and sorrow was not really cruel ; he was very thoughtless.— "Alliance News."