Page:Stories and story-telling (1915).djvu/266

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sun," cried Mother Robin to her husband. "He'll be sunstruck." She and Father Robin stood shading their eyes under the cool maple leaves to look up at him. "Who can he be?"

"I think, my dear," said Father Robin, "that I had better go up and tell him to come down."

"Oh," cried Mother Robin, "what would the birdlings and I do if anything should happen to you!" and she caught him by the tail just as he was flying off.

As Father Robin opened his mouth to answer, the scarlet bird spread shining black wings and flew into the sunshine, singing,

"I love the sun, the light, the flame,
Scarlet tanager is my name."

"Never fear for him," said Mother Robin, "the sun and he are good friends."


HOW THE OLD TROUT SERVED TOM

Once a water-baby named Tom swam close to some little trout. He began tormenting them and trying to catch them. They slipped through his fingers and jumped dean out of the water in their fright.

As Tom chased them he swam near a dark pool under an alder root. Out floushed a huge old brown trout ten times as big as he. She ran straight at