THE TUI’S DOWNFALL

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21735, 17 August 1940, Page 11

THE TUI’S DOWNFALL

“Here comes Tui,” said the bell-bird. “Oh isn’t he stuck up! I’ll put his spirits down a peg! You wait!” replied Mrs Magpie preening her feathers. While these two were talking all the other birds sat in silence. They did not want “stuck up” to mimic them. And the beetles and the grubs hid, so that he could not make a dainty meal of them. The Tui flew gracefully round, and sat on a branch by a cheeky sparrow who said “Good-day, my lord!” To this the Tui exclaimed in a proud voice “Ho! Ho! 1 am a lord, am I! I bet I can beat every bird in the forest at mimicing.” All the birds flew round the spot, and decided to give a prize to the winner. King Kingfisher came, and he was very excited and sang the best song he had ever sung. Then the Tui’s turn came to mimic. While the birds were singing and chirruping Mrs Magpie flew slyly to to Mr Bug’s home. She had once done a good turn for him, so she asked if he would do one for her. Mr Bug said “Yes,” so Mrs Magpie told him her plan. Then off they both went, and got back again just as Tui was going to sing. Mr Bug started to bite the back of Tui’s neck, so instead of singing his usual sweet note, he shouted “Ouch! Ouch!” Everybody laughed, and the prize was given to the bell bird. Tui learnt that pride always comes before a fall, and was never so stuck up again. 3 Marks to Josephine O’Hara (age 8) Which is the heavier—a pound of feathers or a pound of gold? They are both the same weight—llb. If a brick weighs a pound and half its own weight, what is the weight of the brick Two pounds.