"Miss Marie?" said Minnie. "Miss Marie? What is her other name?"
"Corrigan," said Mary.
"Well, then, that's my younger sister," said Minnie proudly. "She's a teacher, and I will say she is a good one. Nothing would do but she must go through normal school and teach. Seems like she was just made for it, so patient and loving." She cast a glance at Tommy. "Not much like my sister Louisa Cordelia, she isn't."
"The children just love her to death," said Mary. "Go on, honey, and say the little piece about the little bird."
Luella arose, breathed hard, curtseyed, and very sweetly recited,
| A little bird sat on a tree, He said, "This seems a pleasant day, He bent his pretty little head, He shook his pretty feathers out. When all the leaves have fallen down When snow is deep on dell and hill, This would not be the place for me," "I know a land far, far away, He waved a wing and winked an eye, And waved his little wing at me. I think perhaps I'll fly away." "I don't see any worms," he said. "It's growing cold without a doubt. And all the trees are bare and brown, And wintry winds are cold and chill, He said, and teetered on his tree. Where winter is as warm as May." And off he flew, "Good-bye, good-bye!" |
CHAPTER VIII
All the children except Tommy clapped their hands when Luella finished. It did indeed sound sweet and she spoke it very prettily, waving her hand and winking her own eye at the end.