when you by your laws contradict the very things I teach? The Squire. You have heard the matter discussed. Those in favor of the motion will say 66 "Aye"-contrary "No." Chorus of Voices. Aye! Aye! The Schoolmaster. No. The Squire. The "Ayes" have it. The birds I will name the committee to enforce The meeting is must go. our new law in the morning. adjourned. II An August afternoon in the year following. The Sewing-Circle meets in the church. The ladies are just seating themselves. The Farmer's Wife. Excuse me! (Picks a caterpillar from the dress collar of the banker's wife.) The Banker's Wife. Oh! Oh! the horrid thing! Whatever are we going to do? That is the third one on me to-day. I am a nervous wreck! Ugh! I can't touch it! The Farmer's Wife. It is well you do not live in the country. We are simply swarming with insects. Great armies of locusts and grasshop pers have devoured every green thing we have. We have scarcely an ear of corn in the field. The land is fairly a desert! The Deacon's Wife. We suffer right here in town. Our cherry-trees are alive with crawling things. What we are going to do I can not tell. The Squire's Wife. Indeed it is distressing. But the insects and the loss of the crops are not all of it. What do you think my little Sammy did last night? He cut off the tails of five little puppies! When I spoke to him about it, he laughed in my face and said, "All the boys are doing it. Didn't father have the little birds killed?" my The Deacon's Wife. True! True! Think of little Sophy growing up with these cruel boys! What kind of men will they make? The Farmer's Wife. Something must be done! My husband is ashamed to say he was wrong in killing the birds. The Banker's Wife. I know mine is, too. But women have a right to be heard once in a while. I mean to have this bird law changed. Is that another caterpillar? How nervous I am! The Squire's Wife. I will tell you what we can do. The town council is meeting this minute. Suppose we all go over there, and present this matter. The Farmer's Wife. That is just the thing! (All go out.) III The next spring. A train of farm wagons is being driven through the town by the school children. The wagons are overarched with boughs on which hang wooden cages filled with singing birds. The deacon's son drives the first team, and the schoolmaster sits beside him. The Schoolmaster. Samuel. The Deacon's Son. for us! (They stop release the birds.) Drive to the town hall, See, the people are waiting before the town hall and The Schoolmaster. What a pretty sight to see the birds fly! The Deacon's Son. I hope the robins will come back to our cherry-trees. Father would give them half the cherries now. The Schoolmaster. Be sure the robins will find your cherry-trees. God tells them where to build their nests. The Deacon's Son. Here is father! (The deacon comes forward and shakes the schoolmaster's hand.) The Deacon. I wish to say to you, my respected friend, that I am heartily ashamed we did not take your advice in the first place about the birds. I want my son to hear me say this to You were right-entirely so. You have done much for my boy and I hope he will continue to love you as he does now. (Shakes hands again and goes away.) you. Little Sophy. It is just like what you taught us, dear Schoolmaster: ""Tis always morning somewhere, and above The awakening continents, from shore to shore, As a wagoner was driving through a miry lane, the wheels stuck fast in the clay, and the horses could get no farther. The man dropped on his knees and began crying and praying to Hercules with all his might to come and help him. "Lazy fellow!" said Hercules, "get up and stir yourself. Put your shoulder to the wheel. Then if you want my help, you shall have it.' OCTOBER'S BRIGHT BLUE WEATHER BY HELEN HUNT JACKSON O sun and skies and clouds of June, When loud the bumblebee makes haste, Belated, thriftless vagrant, And goldenrod is dying fast, And lanes with grapes are fragrant; When gentians roll their fingers tight |