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Show Fairy Tale Mff GRAHAM BOWCR THE FIRST ROBIN "I always try to be the first one," laid little Mr. ltobln Ked Breast. He was hopping about, enjoylnp the rery, very early spring flowers which were coming out on Die bushes and In i lonie of the flower beds. lie was en- oylng, too, the green grans. Such things were very popular with Mr. Robin Ited Rret. "Yes, you alwajs come ahead of me," said young Master Ilobln. "Tou must make a very early start." "I do," said Uttle Mr. Kobln Red Breast. ' "lint," said young Master Robin, "aren't you afraid you will find that there still will be some cold weather! Aren't you afraid you will find It very hard to keep warm? "I often think of starting sooner and then I say to myself: " 'Mnster Robin, It Is warm where you are. It may be chilly for some : time to come where you are going. Be i wise and do not take chances,' " "Yes," said little Mr. Robin Red Breast, "I, too, think, of that. "Rut I am willing to take a chance ' 9n the cold, and I'm willing to be a llt-I llt-I tie chilly at times for the sake of the ' great welcome I receive. And. because, too, of the Joy I give to those who've been seeing snow and feeling cold and who long for the warmth of spring. "They feol It will be warmer when they see me, and they know that even I though chilly days still may come, that j spring Is really on the way and that I she will come very soon. "Oh, young Muster Robin, there li no thrill In the world so great as being j the first robin to arrive. Of course, i "Aren't You Afraid 7" others come along with me and stop at I different places, but as we come along , I hurry over to this city park. "And people suddenly notice uiw. l tc only Just arrived, of course. "But they wonder If I've been here a little while and they 'haven't noticed me. "Ah, no, they notice me quickly. I can tell you that 1 "Yes, the people notice me. The children see me and their happy, gay, shrieks of delight Just make my little robin heart beat with Joy. "And the grownups see me ladle and gentlemen, too. But the children are the very first to notice me. "'The first robin," they cry. 'The first robin of the year.' ' "And my feathers almost seem to tremble with excitement. I "I'm told by my brothers and cousins I and friends who go to the country that It 1 Just as exciting there. "But I alwaye come to the city, for It seems to nte a city park needs me more. "And to hear the excitement I make and the Joy I bring 1 will risk a little chilly weather, young Master Robin. "So will others of the family who make very early starts. They know the great Joy and excitement of being a first arrival, "Oh, young Master Robin, If ever you heard that cry of Joy which comes when you're first noticed hopping about you would never miss again hearing it. "It is something I cannot describe. My robin words are too few In which to properly describe It to you. "But I will try to do so In this way: "It is as though the people suddenly felt my new happiness In their hearts, and so much of It, too, that they wanted want-ed to send forth that happiness around about them. "And they send It forth by their Joyous Joy-ous voices and we creatures of the early spring catch some of It aa It goes around. "Almost It is as though they said: " 'Little Mr. Robin Red Breast, you have brought us so much Joy-See! Joy-See! We have lots of happiness to spare. Here, take some of ours and when the cool days come hold the hup-plnes hup-plnes close to your dear llttlo heart so thnt It will keep you from being sorry you came so early." "That Is the way It feels to me." And younii Master Robin said: "Next year I will lie one of the first arrivals. I've made up my robin tnlnd to that, little Mr. Rohhi Red Breast." |