t die if I am left here."

"But you cannot fly!" said the Ducks. "How can we take you with us?"

"Take me with you! take me with you!" said the Tortoise.

The Ducks felt so sorry for her that at last they thought of a way to
take her. "We have thought of a way which will be possible," they said,
"if only you can manage to keep still long enough. We will each take
hold of one end of a stout stick, and do you take the middle in your
mouth; then we will fly up in the air with you and carry you with us.
But remember not to talk! If you open your mouth, you are lost."

The Tortoise said she would not say a word; she would not so much as
move her mouth; and she was very grateful. So the Ducks brought a
strong little stick and took hold of the ends, while the Tortoise bit
firmly on the middle. Then the two Ducks rose slowly in the air and
flew away with their burden.

When they were above the treetops, the Tortoise wanted to say, "How
high we are!" But she remembered, and kept still. When they passed
the church steeple she wanted to say, "What is that which shines?" But
she remembered, and held her peace. Then they came over the village
square, and the people looked up and saw them. "Look at the Ducks
carrying a Tortoise!" they shouted; and every one ran to look. The
Tortoise wanted to say, "What business is it of yours?" But she
didn't. Then she heard the people shout, "Isn't it strange! Look at
it! Look!"

The Tortoise forgot everything except that she wanted to say, "Hush,
you foolish people!" She opened her mouth,-- and fell to the ground.
And that was the end of the Tortoise.

It is a very good thing to be able to hold one's tongue!

ROBERT OF SICILY[1]

[1] Adapted from Longfellow's poem.

An old legend says that there was once a king named Robert of Sicily,
who was brother to the great Pope of Rome and to the Emperor of
Allemaine. He was a very selfish king, and very proud; he cared more
for his pleasures than for the needs of his people, and his heart was
so filled with his own greatness that he had no thought for God.

One day, this proud king was sitting in his place at church, at vesper
service; his courtiers were about him, in their bright garments, and he
himself was dressed in his royal robes. The choir was chanting the
Latin service, and as the beautiful voices swelled louder, the king
noticed one particular verse which seemed to be repeated again and
again. He turned to a le