The Curious Book of Birds | Page 8

you must understand,
or he would never have been chosen to guard our nation's coat of arms. And besides this
you may see his picture on many a banner and crest and coin of gold or silver, so famous
has he become.
But the Wren was to be punished. And while the birds were trying to decide what should
be done with him, they put him in prison in a mouse-hole and set Master Owl to guard
the door. Now while the judges were putting their heads together the lazy Owl fell fast
asleep, and out of prison stole the little Wren and was far away before any one could
catch him. So he was never punished after all, as he richly deserved to be.

The birds were so angry with old Master Owl for his carelessness that he has never since
dared to show his face abroad in daytime, but hides away in his hollow tree. And only at
night he wanders alone in the woods, sorry and ashamed.

HALCYONE
The story of the first Kingfisher is a sad one, and you need not read it unless for a very
little while you wish to feel sorry.
Long, long ago when the world was new, there lived a beautiful princess named
Halcyone. She was the daughter of old Æolus, King of the Winds, and lived with him on
his happy island, where it was his chief business to keep in order the four boisterous
brothers, Boreas, the North Wind, Zephyrus, the West Wind, Auster, the South Wind, and
Eurus, the East Wind. Sometimes, indeed, Æolus had a hard time of it; for the Winds
would escape from his control and rush out upon the sea for their terrible games, which
were sure to bring death and destruction to the sailors and their ships. Knowing them so
well, for she had grown up with these rough playmates, Halcyone came to dread more
than anything else the cruelties which they practiced at every opportunity.
One day the Prince Ceyx came to the island of King Æolus. He was the son of Hesperus,
the Evening Star, and he was the king of the great land of Thessaly. Ceyx and Halcyone
grew to love each other dearly, and at last with the consent of good King Æolus, but to
the wrath of the four Winds, the beautiful princess went away to be the wife of Ceyx and
Queen of Thessaly.
For a long time they lived happily in their peaceful kingdom, but finally came a day when
Ceyx must take a long voyage on the sea, to visit a temple in a far country. Halcyone
could not bear to have him go, for she feared the dangers of the great deep, knowing well
the cruelty of the Winds, whom King Æolus had such difficulty in keeping within bounds.
She knew how the mischievous brothers loved to rush down upon venturesome sailors
and blow them into danger, and she knew that they especially hated her husband because
he had carried her away from the island where she had watched the Winds at their terrible
play. She begged Ceyx not to go, but he said that it was necessary. Then she prayed that
if he must go he would take her with him, for she could not bear to remain behind
dreading what might happen.
But Ceyx was resolved that Halcyone should not go. The good king longed to take her
with him; no more than she could he smile at the thought of separation. But he also feared
the sea, not on his own account, but for his dear wife. In spite of her entreaties he
remained firm. If all went well he promised to return in two months' time. But Halcyone
knew that she should never see him again as now he spoke.
The day of separation came. Standing heart-broken upon the shore, Halcyone watched the
vessel sail away into the East, until as a little speck it dropped below the horizon; then
sobbing bitterly she returned to the palace.

Now the king and his men had completed but half their journey when a terrible storm
arose. The wicked Winds had escaped from the control of good old Æolus and were
rushing down upon the ocean to punish Ceyx for carrying away the beautiful Halcyone.
Fiercely they blew, the lightning flashed, and the sea ran high; and in the midst of the
horrible tumult the good ship went to the bottom with all on board. Thus the fears of
Halcyone were proved true, and far from his dear wife poor Ceyx perished in the cruel
waves.
That very night when the shipwreck occurred, the sad and fearful Halcyone, sleeping
lonely at home, knew in a dream the very calamity which had happened. She seemed