The bird had flown down for some sweet crumbs of bread, And heard every word little Emily said. "How funny I'd look in that costume!" thought he, And he laughed, as he warbled his chick-a-de-dee. "I am grateful," said he, "for the wish you express, But I have no occasion for such a fine dress. I'd rather remain with my little limbs free, Than to hobble about singing chick-a-de-dee. "There is One, my dear child, though I cannot tell who, Has clothed me already, and warm enough, too. Good morning! Oh, who are so happy as we?" And away he flew, singing his chick-a-de-dee. [1] From "The Second Reader--of the Rational Method In Reading." HOW THE BIRDS GOT THEIR FEATHERS (IROQUOIS MYTH) That evening, as the family sat beside the hearth, Phyllis thought of the brave little chickadees out in the fir-trees. "I wonder if they are really warm enough," she said. "Do feathers make a warm dress, mother? Why do birds have feathers instead of fur?" "I have heard the story that the Indians tell of how the birds got their feathers," said mother. "Bring your chairs closer and I will tell the story to you." So the children drew their chairs up into the firelight, and listened to this little Indian story: "Once some little Indian children," began the mother, "gathered about the fire inside their deerskin wigwam and begged their mother for a story. "Each little Indian was wrapped in a bright coloured blanket. Each little Indian wore long turkey buzzard feathers in his hair. "The Indian mother looked at her baby braves proudly. She thought of the time when each of the children was a tiny papoose and swung in a deerskin cradle like a bird in its nest. "'There was a time,' said the Indian squaw, 'when the birds had no feathers. "'Being naked, they remained hidden among the leaves. Being ashamed they were silent, and no bird-note sweetened the stillness of the forest. "'At last with faint chirpings the mother birds prayed the Great Spirit for blankets in which to wrap their little ones. "'Then the Great Spirit, seeing their sorry plight, sent a messenger to the birds, who told them that even now coverings were ready for every bird. "'The messenger said that hereafter each family of birds should dress in uniform, so that the forest people, seeing a bird, might know at once, by its dress, to what bird family it belonged. "'But alas! the messenger also said that the uniforms were a great way off. He himself could not bring them to the forest. The birds must choose one who was strong of wing and able to endure great hardships, to go back with him and bring the uniforms home. "'The poor featherless birds looked about for one who was brave and fearless and untiring. A council was held to induce some bird to go on this long journey. "'But one and all pleaded some excuse. Some must remain to care for the babes still in the nest. Some were too old to undertake the journey. Some were too young to find the way.