Part 5 (1/2)

[Ill.u.s.tration: WHO IS TO BLAME?]

ONLY A BIRD.

CAN you see the old man behind his rows of cages? In them are many poor little birds. They cannot fly about in the pure sweet air. The old man sells them. That is the way he earns his money.

Then why does he look so displeased? The young man, with the empty cage in his hand, has just bought a bird and laid the money on the counter.

The young man loves birds so well that he bought one on purpose to set it free.

The old man is wis.h.i.+ng he could get the bird and sell it again. He thinks it foolish to throw away money. And he tells the young man so.

”Not thrown away, my friend,” says the young man. ”It is well spent if it gives pleasure even to the smallest creature.”

”'Twas only a bird,” insists the old man.

”But G.o.d made the birds. And not one falls to the ground without his notice. I think we shall have to give an account of the way we treat his birds.”

”Well, I wish I had that one again.”

”And I wish I could open all these cages.”

[Ill.u.s.tration: ONLY A BIRD.]

WHAT A KISS DID.

BABY Bell thought she could do just as she pleased everywhere, and with everybody. And she generally did. She even trotted into Mrs. Burnett's, a sad, lonely woman, who lived all alone by herself in the next house.

One day she came pattering into the room where Mrs. Burnett sat. She clung to her dress. She looked up lovingly into the sad face. Then she lisped forth,--

”_Miss Nett_, Baby Bell tiss you.”

Then she put up her sweet lips to give a kiss. Who could resist such a baby? Not even Mrs. Burnett. She took the child on her lap, and covered her face with kisses and tears. Baby Bell looked on wonderingly.

When papa came for her she said, ”_Miss Nett_ tryin', Baby Bell tiss her lots.”

Mrs. Burnett explained. ”I lost a baby just her age. I felt since that I had no one to love me. But Baby Bell loves me, I am sure. I hope she will come often.”

”As often as you and she wish,” said papa.

”Baby Bell tum ev'y day--tum see _Miss Nett_. Baby Bell love _Miss Nett_,” added the baby, looking back over papa's shoulder.

[Ill.u.s.tration: WHAT A KISS DID.]