Clara took a rich red rose from a vase which stood near. "I am going to ask a question," said she, "and to the one who shall offer the best reason for his or her answer, the rose shall be given as a prize."
Tom, a merry rosy-cheeked boy, laughed as he stooped and whispered to his next neighbour, Annie. "If the rose were to be won by giving a long jump, or a hard pull, or a good knockdown blow, I'd have a chance," said he; "but you could wring out butter from a broom-stick sooner than a rhyme or a reason from me."
"Let's hear the question," cried Phil.
"If you were to be changed into a bird, what bird would you choose to become?" asked Clara.
"An eagle," shouted out Master Tom.
"Your reason?" inquired the young lady.
"Well," drawled out the boy, "suppose because he is the biggest and strongest of birds, and able to whack all the rest."
"The eagle is neither the biggest nor the strongest of birds," cried Phil. "The ostrich, condor, and albatross are all larger, and some more powerful than the eagle."
Tom shrugged his shoulders and shook his head; had he not been fonder of boxing than of books, he might have said that the huge condor, being a vulture, is of the same order, and therefore may be called first cousin to the eagle.
"Jessie, dear, what would you be?" asked Clara of the smallest child in the room.