Hespie forgot her
trouble and worked at the wheel joyously, making the paper noise and
singing her pretty song at the same time.
If Hespie had not had her wheel to play with, her life would have been
quite dull. One time her wheel was corked up so that she could not go
inside. She became quite angry and ran in and out of her bed-box, hardly
knowing what to do. Her rage did not last long, however, and she was
soon frolicking about the cage and singing. The song sounded at first
like the cooing of a dove; then it changed to quick notes more like the
cuckoo; and, after that, the noise was like the tapping of Mr.
Woodpecker on a tree.
One of Hespie's favorite games, which she played with the children, they
called "hauling in the lines." She seemed never to grow tired of it. The
children would hold a long cotton cord, while Hespie sat upon her hind
legs and pulled it in like a sailor, hand over hand. Then the children
would pull it out again just to see her pull it in.
Happy little Hespie often sang when she ate. One day a small twig with
insects' eggs on it was handed to her. She sat up straight in her
cunning way, took the twig in her hands, and held it in her mouth. While
she nibbled, she sang; so that she looked very much like a little
musician playing a fife.
--_Written for Dew Drops by Susanne C. Umlauf._
When we wish to help others, it is wonderful how many ways open before
us.
OUR LESSON.--For Feb. 22.
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