ut into
the storm.

Yes! There was Mamma Meadow-Lark sitting upon her nest with her head
tucked under her wing, sound asleep. But when he held his tiny lantern
close, Thumbkins could see that she shivered as the cold raindrops
splashed upon her back.

So Thumbkins ran to the woods where he knew the mushrooms grew, and
breaking off the largest one he could find he carried it to where Mamma
Meadow-Lark sat sleeping upon her nest, and planted it so the raindrops
rolled off the round roof and did not touch her at all.

Then, shivering himself, for he was soaking wet, he ran home as fast as
he could, took off his dripping clothes, put on his little pajamas, and
climbed into his warm little cozy cobweb bed.

Now of course Thumbkins was happy because he had helped another, and
when a person is happy there is nothing to worry about, and when there
is nothing to worry about, of course there is nothing to keep one awake.

So Thumbkins fell fast asleep and dreamed the most pleasant dreams.

And they were such happy dreams Thumbkins slept until almost half-past
eight the next morning.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

THE WISHBONE

The stove lifter lay upon his iron side and looked across the top of the
shelf which stood above the stove. "Who is he?" he asked of the box of
matches lying near him.

The box of matches looked at the strange new object standing upon two
thin white legs and leaning against the wall near the coffee pot.

"I do not know!" the match box answered.

Then they asked a number of other objects lying about if they knew who
the newcomer was, but none of them had ever seen anything like him
before.

When the new two-legged object with the bald head heard everyone
whispering he felt they were talking about him, and he stepped out where
all might see him, and walked up and down the shelf at the back of the
stove.

The stove lifter, the match box and all the other objects watched him
with interest as he strutted back and forth.

At last the new object stood still and with his head thrown back he
said: "I am a wish-bone, but as none of you know what a wishbone is,
I shall tell you! A wishbone is an object of great importance in this
world. Some of us come from the breasts of chickens and some from the
breasts of turkeys. When we are placed above a doorsill in a house, we
bring good luck!"

"Don't the people in the house here wish good luck?" asked the match
box.

"What a silly questi