"Where would you fly to?" inquired the swallow.
"Away from this world of care," murmured Mr. Thompson.
The swallow laughed heartily.
"Well, I guess not; but you can try, if you want to."
Mr. Thompson felt himself begin to shrink, and saw his clothes slowly disappear and become changed into feathers. But he was getting so used to these metamorphoses that he didn't mind it, and really gazed upon himself with satisfaction as finally he felt that he was a perfect swallow.
"Come up here," said the swallow.
Mr. Thompson stretched his wings, and fluttered up to the nest beside his friend.
"How do you like it?" inquired the swallow.
"It is glorious," replied Mr. Thompson. "Oh, that I could always be a bird!"
"Humph!" replied the bird. "How would you like to have to build your house every spring, going and coming a hundred times a day with your mouth full of mud?"