[Illustration: “Why, what’s the matter?”]
[Illustration: “Dick Canary hurt his throat”]
“Then Dick Canary hurt his throat, He sang so loud on every note.
“‛Now, people love to eat of chicken― If I stole one, I’d get a lickin’, And then you’d hear an awful scream― “Why don’t you give that cat ice-cream?” A chicken and a bird to me Seem much alike―do they to thee? How classic is your pretty voice, I love to hear you make that noise. Oh, sing to me, you lovely thing, Oh, sing and sing and sing and sing.’
[Illustration: “Ah, bird, your voice is very dear!”]
[Illustration: “He sang so loud on every note”]
“Then Dick Canary hurt his throat, He sang so loud on every note.
“‘Music has charm to soothe, I believe, The wild instincts that in me breathe. How horrible your lonely fate, To be behind that golden gate. If I for you undo the bars, Perhaps you’ll soar beyond the stars. Where go birds-souls―I really wonder― It makes me sit and sit and ponder. Oh, sing to me, you lovely thing, Oh, sing and sing and sing and sing.’
“Then Dick Canary hurt his throat, He sang so loud on every note.
“‛If I undo the bars for thee, And from the cage thy sweet life free― Well, folks love chicken, this I know― Are you a chicken? Yes! I trow!’
[Illustration: “I heard you on the stair”]
“Just then, I heard you on the stair, Dear Miss, and cried out, then and there; Not for myself―but quite contrary― ’Twas for the sake of Dick Canary.”
[Illustration: “Dick Canary seemed to like it”]
“I met Jubey scudding into the kitchen,” laughed Mary Frances, “frightened to death,―she looked. I can’t understand how she got up-stairs, Magic and Mystery. I said to her: ‛Jubey, you’ll get no sympathy from me if you’ve been up-stairs.’”
“The strange part is,” said Fairy Lady, “that Dick Canary seemed to like it.”
“‛Flattery sounds Sweet to the ear, Even from those We ought to fear,’
“Oh, yes,” said Fairy Lady. “I do believe that is so; now, for to-day’s plans.”
“This time,” said Mary Frances, rather shame-facedly, “it is a real event. Mary Marie has been invited to take an automobile ride with Lottie’s ten children.”
[Illustration: “This time it is a real event”]
“Oh, how delightful!” exclaimed Fairy Lady, “and so opportune!”
“Opportune,” thought Mary Frances. “Opportune―that must mean ‛just right.’”