Page:Stories and story-telling (1915).djvu/265

 "No, a big fellow like you," said the shadow, as he shot out in front of Tom.

WHY THE CANARY SANG IN HIS CAGE

A canary swung in his golden cage and sang joyously. The window was open, so a lark heard him as she rose into the air. She alighted on the window sill in wonder.

"How can you sing shut up in a cage!" she exclaimed. "Come out into the free air and up into the sky with me."

The canary stopped his song to listen to the lark. "Why do you stop singing, little canary?" asked a sick boy, in a feeble voice. He was in a bed near the canary's cage. The lark could not see him, but she heard him. "Your song," said the boy, "makes me forget my pain."

The canary burst into a sweeter song. "Now I know," said the lark, "he sings because it makes the sick boy happy." And she flew upward, wiser than before.

WHO THE BIRD WAS

One hot day in July a bird perched at the very top of a tall hemlock. The blazing sun shone on his scarlet body and made it glow like fire.

"What a foolish bird to be out in the scorching