Show - Pag Nine THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE JUNIOR SUNDAY MORNING APRIL 5 1930 High Tribute ToGoldfinch A flash of pure gold in THE BIRDS’ REQUESTS ! the sunshine and a little thrill of musical notes— the goldfinch is out Yes the little prince of sunshine has returned with the late spring full of gladness and song You may not know him when I address him as goldfinch but you must have met him as the wild canary” the yellow bird or the thistleblrd He wears a rich combination of black and gold and though he is small he is graceful attractive and charming His song is the concoction of all exquisite sounds of summer and the great out of doors One summer I had the pleasure of living neighbors to this charming fellow He and his little brown mate had construct- - -- Once upon a time for every story begins in this fashion Vay back in the dim and distant past there was a great council of birds It was a most important gathering for it was announced throughout all the length and breadth of the land Good Fairy Feather Your Nest would be there and grant each bird any kind of plumage or any other detail of personal appearance or any characteristic he wished And this gathering mind you was held long long before the birds were dressed as they are today From miles and miles around they came flying over roads and fields and streams and tarrying not until they alighted at the chosen spot Indeed some had been on the wing for days and days and they came straggling in hungry and exhausted But finally all were assembled and they grouped themselves on the green grass in a circle in the center of which was an open space where stood the Good Fairy Feather Your Nest “Now" said the Good Fairy speaking in the bird language which neither you nor I nor anyone could even hope to understand “We are ready for the conclave It has come to my ears that many of you are dissatisfied with your personal ap make-belie- ve morning Frances was disappointed when she saw the postjnan did not stop at her On Monday ed a neat artistic little home in my poplar tree in which were deposited four wee blue eggs They received the acme of care until one day in late summer four gawky bedowned little creatures came to take their place With fascination one watched the thrifty little coupe dart from one tree to another seeking out the luscious little grubs and caterpillars to appease their hungry brood’s appetite The goldfinch is somewhat of a vegetarian if you’d call it that for he likes weeds and thistles especially well You would think such a sunny bird would shy away from the cold but he is not afraid of it He is found as far north as Canada where in chilly weather he dons a brown coat Despite the fact that he is lf inches only four and long he is a decided asset to the fanner Here is one dapper little chap with whom it will pay to become acquainted one-ha- LA VONNE ALICE BROWN Alpine Utah Very Sad! One night I taught my little sister Annette the little nursery rhyme1 song “Jack and Jill” The next day she was cutting paper when holding up one piece she called to mother: “Look mama this is Jack’s dis- aster" ROBERTA HAYCOCK Oakley Idaho house “I guess Mr Morgan will receive the letter today" she thought “It may have been delayed and did not reach him" the same day” i She decided she had better start for school as it was getting late When she opened the door she saw a big automobile stopped in front A man stepped out Whom she recognised as Mr Morgan He was coming towards her you Miss Marsh?” he asked gravely “Come “Yes” she answered “Are right in” “Grandfather” cried Peter as he saw Mr Morgan Frances did not go to school that day for she was very interested in the turn of events Mr Morgan asked her to name her reward and she informed him that she had nothing to (lo with his getting his grandson back However Mr Morgan insisted that she have some reward so she asked him to build a playground for Davies “Why don’t you want anything for yourself?” he asked kindly “A plaground is all I really want” she said “You see Davies needs a playground very much" The news that Mr Morgan’s grandson had been found leaked out and photographers and reporters crowded in Mr Marsh’s house When Peter left he begged Frances to come and visit him often “I am comine here in the sum- - pearance Perhaps I should be angry because you dare to imagine that you know better than I do what is suitable to each of you But I am not I want all my little children to be happy So I shall grant your requests as far as in my power lies “But I warn you each of you that I shall not be responsible for your choice nor will I change It after it is once made Come now speak your minds freely but remember my warning Once ' more I say remember that nothing can be absolutely perfect in this world and that ypu must abide by the consequences of my granting your wish' Ah Sparrow you are eager to be heard I see Very well what do you desire most?" Up spoke the little Sparrow a delicate brilliant hued bird “I want most to be’ hardy and healthy and able to fight other birds that now pick on me and scare me half to death when they don’t all but kill me” he answered “Grant me that wish good fairy and I will be happy” Feather Your Nest thought for a moment or two and then replied: “Very well Sparrow it shall be as you wish Stand still while I cast my spell upon you" (To be continued) RUTH ELOISE WEST-Ag11 Salt Lake City e mer” he said “to see your new playground” All of the girls asked Frances questions when they saw her the next day and thought how wonderful she was to ask Mr Morgan to build a playground “Didn’t I tell you that we would have a playground in' the summer if my hunch was right?” asked Frances “Well it was right” (The end) BARBARA GOUVALAS Salt Lake Nuthatch Worth Watching Often The white breasted nuthatch is a family of small birds They are very lively restless little creatures You usually see them with their heads either up or down on the trunks of the trees They spend most pf their lives pick- ing Insects out of the trees so we see they are a great help too The white breasted nuthatch Is the best known bird in the east Both in the east and west they go around calling “Gauwki Gauwk!" Their home is either In a deserted woodpecker’s nest or in natural holes in the trees It Is wonderful to see the nuthatch run over the trunk and large branches of the trees It is a funny sight to see a mother going about with three or four hungry birds after her like chickens after the hen all calling their little “Gauwksl’VI am not sure whether they migrate or not KNIGHT MARIAN HICKEN- LOOPER Lavton Utah Age 10 Tiniest Bird Claimed to be Prettiest Too One of the prettiest birds you can find anywhere is the hum- ming bird it is also one of the tiniest There are many different species of humming birds The one which is best known in the western states has greenish brown wings and its breast and throat are cream colored It is much smaller than a spar- row and its nest is only about the size of a dollar The white eggs are about the size of a pea Two eggs are always laid and from them are hatched two baby birds usually not larger than a bumble bee The humming bird eats insects and honey which he gets from flowers and plants He is named from the humming noise made by his wings EMM JEAN SCHOENFELD Barn Owl Helps By Eating Mice ’ utters calls so The barn strange that there is a question as to whether it is a bird or beast It is mostly known as the monkeyowl The owl comes -faced out at dusk to search for food It searches for mice and kangaroo rats The nest of the barn owl usually is found in a hollow tree owl cave or building It is made of rubbish The barn owls are not ambitious and do not offer to bite or scratch when handled They sit quietly by day and are active only by night These owls should always be protected The bam owl is found from northern California Colorado Ohio and Connecticut and south to Nicaragua and north to Canada LA REINE BRADFORD Tooele Utah jfz GAMES Betides “Easy Money” the fascinating new game based on “Big Business” we have many ether good games for hoys and girls DESERET BOOK COMPANY 44 East South Tempi 9 |