"Was pouring down upon the ship," continued the Sage, "and almost freezing the poor soldiers, who had great difficulty as it was, in dragging the heavy cannon up the steep side of the mountain, upon which he was standing; still leaning over the side of the balloon, she peered down eagerly into the sky. There was not a soul in sight. "Suddenly a cry of 'Fire!' rang through the town, and two or three of them hastily putting on their best clothes, joined the picnic party under the gnarled oak tree in the meadow, and their joyous laughter rang merrily down the old staircase, where the grandfather's clock stood, tick-tick-ticking, like the great volcano which yawned at their very feet, and into which the two boys plunged merrily, and were soon splashing about in the shallow water like a mahogany chest of drawers upon the sands of time." The Sage paused. "Do you like it?" he inquired, anxiously. "Not much, I'm afraid," said Dick. "You see, we can't quite understand what it's all about." "Well, neither do I," said the Sage, "because, you know, I'm making it up as I go along." "Then it isn't true?" asked Marjorie. "True? Nonsense! You wanted a story, didn't you? This is a real story; there isn't a particle of truth in it anywhere." "Oh, we didn't mean that kind of story," explained Marjorie, "we meant a tale." "What kind of a tale would you like--a Fishes' tale, a Birds' tale, or an Animals' tale?" "A birds' tale, please," said Marjorie, after consulting the others. "All right," said the Sage, "this is a lot of birds' tales all tied up together, and is called a fable----" [Illustration: "The gossiping goose."] "Is it one of AEsop's?" asked Dick, who thought that it would look grand for him to have heard of AEsop's fables. "No, it isn't," said the Sage, rather crossly; "it's one of my own! Now then, are you ready? I call it--" "THE GOSSIPING GOOSE." "A Crested Grebe, a Spoonbill, and a Goose, I beg to say, Met one fine day, And compliments were passed the most profuse. 'How very well you look, my dear,' said one, 'That shade of red Upon your head, So sweet; and how _delightfully_ your hair is done.' And each had gratifying things to say, With gushing smile, Upon the style Of all the others' holiday array. Then Mrs. Goose, with most superior sneer, Said, 'Have you seen That dress of green That Mrs. Peacock's wearing now, my dear? 'She looks a perfect guy, and then--her feet And legs! Oh, lor! I never saw A bird so clumsy, or so indiscreet. 'I met her at the Concert Hall last week, A poor affair, I do declare, I wonder that the Songsters have such cheek. 'Miss Nightingale was singing far too loud; I never heard So harsh a bird, I wonder how she dared to face the crowd.