“And what kind of a bird are you?” she asked, for she had never seen one like it before. “An UN-KIND, if you ask any more foolish questions!” snapped the old Mother-bird. “Just as if you didn’t know that we are all Scarecrows!” she added. “Oh, I know I’m a plain little thing!” said Coppertop, tearfully, “but I never thought I was a Scarecrow before.” “Neither you are, before--this is ‘after’.” “After what?” cried Coppertop, feeling sure that she must be going mad. “After to-morrow, of course!” replied the old Mother-bird, with surprised eyebrows. “Oh, dear!” cried the poor, bewildered child, “what’s after to-morrow?” “The day stupid! Haven’t you heard the old saying, ‘The day after to-morrow’? The day is always after to-morrow, but he never catches it.” “Well, I’m after a December day, and I never catch that,” sighed Coppertop. “Hush!” suddenly cried the old Mother-bird. “There goes the Mikado!” “The Mikado!” exclaimed Coppertop; “why, he lives in Japan!” “Well, isn’t this Japan, stupid?” snapped the old Mother-bird. “Is it? I thought it was India,” said Coppertop, wearily, “nothing seems to be right. I’ve got feathers instead of hair, and I eat worms! I don’t believe I’m me at all! I must be someone else, but if I’m not ‘me,’ who am I?” “Be quiet!” said the old Mother-bird, sternly; “if the Mikado hears you, he’ll order us to jump into the river--like poor Tom Tit.” “But how----” persisted Coppertop. “I’ll explain it all,” cried the voice of kindly Mr. Atom. “Take MY advice, my dear, and don’t argue with the old Bird.” “When you see a chance,” he continued, “jump out of the nest and fly to the ancient Japanese Lantern over there.” “Then are we really in Japan?” whispered the child. “Yes,” replied Mr. Atom. “The old Mother-bird found you hanging from the palm tree in India, and, thinking that you were one of her precious chicks, she flew with you here to Japan. Now you know all about it. Ta-ta.” And he was gone. Coppertop lost no time in doing as Mr. Atom had told her. Just as soon as the old Scarecrow’s back was turned, she scrambled from the nest and jumped. As she flew down to the Lantern, she saw that she was really and truly in Japan. How beautiful it was, to be sure! It seemed to be a land of colour and sunshine. Flowers grew in profusion, and here and there quaint little Japanese houses peeped up, like golden and red-haired children playing at hide-and-seek amongst the blossom of the plum trees. And in the distance she caught a glimpse of snow-capped Fujiyama, the sacred mountain of Japan. Upon reaching the Lantern, which was made of stone, and very old and large, Coppertop clambered inside, and sat down to have a deep, deep think, for she had much to think about and to consider.