The Magic Speech Flower | Page 8

left
alive.
"So they called a family council, to consider their sad state and decide
what it was best to do. When they were all assembled together, they
talked the matter over and decided to go and ask aid from the Master of
Life.
"'I have heard your complaint,' said the Master of Life when they had
finished, 'and I am willing to assist you. But first you must understand
that the cause of all your trouble is your love of fine clothes. Your
black and white uniforms are very beautiful, but they are too
con-spic'-u-ous for your safety. By day your enemies can spy you afar
because you are black; by night they can see you because you are
white.
"'Hereafter you shall wear different clothing. No longer shall your
feathers be black and white; they shall be black and brown and yellow.
When you sit upon the ground you shall look like the dry, brown grass,
and when you fly through the air your enemies shall not be able to
mark your flight from a distance. Thus it shall come to pass that, if you
act wisely, you shall live in peace and safety.'
"When they heard this the Bob Lincolns were grieved at heart. They
loved their gay black and white uniforms and sorrowed at the thought
of parting with them. So they humbly begged the Master of Life to let
them keep their gay clothing and tell them some other way of escaping

their enemies.
"'There is no other way,' said he. 'But tell me, when do you suffer least
from your enemies? Is it when you are dwelling in your old northern
home, or when you are dwelling in the sunny Southland?' 'When we are
dwelling in our old homes,' answered the Bob Lincolns.
"'Very well, then,' said the Master of Life, 'while you are dwelling in
your old home, all the male Bob Lincolns may wear their black and
white garments. Nevertheless they shall suffer for their vanity, for their
enemies shall find and slay many of them.
"'But your wives and sisters must be content with a quieter dress. It is
they who have the most to do with tending your nests and rearing your
young ones. If they should wear your gay black and white garments,
your enemies would find and kill you all, and the Bob Lincoln family
would perish from the earth,'
"That is the story," said Bob Lincoln, "that my grandfather told me long
ago in our distant winter home in the Southland. If you keep watch,
little boy, for a month or so, you will see me put off my black and
white suit for one just like Mrs. Bob Lincoln's. Then you will know that
we are getting ready for our journey to our distant winter home in the
sunny Southland, far away across the great, salt sea."
"Now," said Bob Lincoln, when he had finished his story, "it's time for
me to be off to see how Mrs. Bob Lincoln is getting along."
And off he flew before little Luke had time to thank him for his
pleasant story. The little boy sat quietly for a while under the old apple
tree. Then he got up and went slowly back to the house.

IV. BOB LINCOLN'S STORY OF HIS OWN LIFE
During the long summer days little Luke went often to visit the Bob
Lincolns. The more he watched them, the more he grew to love them.
Bob Lincoln himself was the merriest, jolliest fellow of all the little

boy's feathered friends.
Little Luke saw the baby birds as soon as they had broken their shells.
He watched the anxious parents feed them. And how those young Bob
Lincolns could eat! How their busy parents had to work to support the
little family! Back and forth over the meadow the old birds flew hour
after hour, searching for food for their hungry babies. And they were
always hungry! Whenever they heard anyone coming, they would close
their eyes, stretch their long necks, and open wide their yellow mouths.
The young birds grew larger and hungrier every day. And every day
Bob Lincoln became busier and quieter. Little Luke noticed that the
jolly little fellow did not sing so much and that his gay coat was
becoming rusty. One by one his bright feathers fell out and dull brown
or yellow ones took their place, until at last he looked just like his little
wife.
"Well, little boy," said Bob Lincoln one morning, "we must be getting
ready to move. These youngsters can fly pretty well, and it is time for
us to go. I am sorry, for I love our meadow home, and a long and
dangerous journey is before us."
"Tell me about it," said little