Page:Mrs. Spring Fragrance - Far - 1912.djvu/293

 "Oh, sister, is that you?" replied the little Chinese seabird. "I could see you last of the flock as you departed from our island, and I did so admire the satin white of your underwings and tail."

"Mine is whiter," chirped the youngest of all the birds.

"Go to sleep, go to sleep!" snapped the eldest brother.

"What did you have to eat today?" inquired the second brother of the little Chinese seabird.

"I had a very tasty worm porridge, dear brother," replied the little Chinese seabird. "I scooped it out of the ground beside me, because you know I dared not move any distance for fear of making worse my broken wing?"

"Your broken wing? Ah, yes, your broken wing!" murmured the second brother.

"Ah, yes, your broken wing!" faintly echoed the others.

Then they all, except the very youngest one, put their heads under their own wings, for they all, except the very youngest one, felt a little bit ashamed of themselves.

But the little Chinese seabird did not wish her brothers and sisters to feel ashamed of themselves. It embarrassed her, so she lifted up her little voice again, and said: