The Trumpeter Swan

himself over the mantel. He had been rather stiffly posed on a bed of artificial moss, but nothing could spoil the beauty of him-the white of his plumage, the elegance of his lines. He was one of

st like a blanket of snow on river banks. The old kings were dead-the glass

s, single and in coveys; sandpipers, tip-ups and peeps, those little ghosts of the seashore, shadows on the sand; there were sora and other rai

s kind hated wanton killing. Their guns would never have swept away the feathered tribes of tree and sky. It was the trappers and the pot-hunters who had done that. There had moto

ly. "If you were consistent," he had flung at them, "yo

ame birds, but who, with the great eagle with the outstretched wings, had been admitted because they had been s

might be heard. It was like the fairy tale of "The Seven Brothers," who were princes, and who were turned into swans and wore gold crowns on their heads. She was prepare

a hot supper at eight. Aunt Claudia, keeping up with the times, had decided that instead of dining and supping, they must lunch and dine. The Judge had agreed

Randy and his mother and Major Prime had come back with them for dinner, she had planned to wear her old white, which had be

She set it down on the case where the Bob-whites were cuddled in brown groups. She whistled a note, and listened to catch the answer. It had

ittle souls be fluttering close?

the threshold, heard her. "You a

aught her breath,

we heard him. There was one night after an awful day-with a moon like this over the battlefield, and across the moon came a black, thin streak-and a bugle sounded-far away. I was half asle

d on his arm. He towered above her. "Rand

an ever grasp. But I want you to know this, Becky, that there is

ment, just simple earnestness. Th

again," and Randy, looking down at the little hand on his

t at the moon. Behind them the old eagle watched with outstretched wings, the great free bird which we stamp on American silver, backed with "In God We Trust." I

rds," said Becky, and in a moment s

you put on yo

t. "I am not

e old white one was

me just as well in my

of c

hould I bother to change for you, Randy, w

not satisfied. "It is a mistake," he said, "n

lf this afternoon. That I was suga

And I didn't come all the way f

ays quarre

nder

argue when they like each other. Oth

rel with Sis

pins them on my pillow. She's a great dear. She hates to have me leave the school. She has the feel