Page:My Dear Cornelia (1924).pdf/20

 we have more to learn from it than it has to learn from us."

"That is a false and vicious humility."

"No, I assure you, very genuine, however vicious. It came over me in the spring several years ago in a vision. I happened one day to observe in my garden a large white cat stalking with soft experienced tread under the lilacs, on the lookout for young robins making their trial flight. Being of a somewhat analogical turn of mind, and having then a high conceit of the wisdom of our generation, I said to myself: 'The garden is a symbol of the world. The wise cat is the old professor. The fledgling robin is the young student.' As I murmured the last word, the white cat made a flying leap for the nestling. It proved to be, however, an adult wren, pert and elusive, which hopped just one spray higher and twittered derision. The cat walked off crestfallen, muttering: 'Such wise birds! I have never known a season when birds were wise so young.

"Well?"

"Well, I really trust these 'wise birds' nowadays much further than you do."

"Won't you explain why?" said Cornelia.

"Let me tell you another story. At a neighbor-