nd frightened her away.
If you had gone close to her this afternoon, I should never have seen
you again. I thought you would know a cat.

"The creature of which you were afraid cares nothing for us. He would
not have harmed you. He has bare legs so he can wade about in the grass
and not get his clothing wet. He uses those long toes and sharp claws
to scratch in the earth for food. He does not catch mice with them. He
uses that strong bill for picking up grain. People call him a rooster."

THE TWO DOVES

Two doves, White-coat and Blue-feather, lived in a dovecote. They were
brothers and were very fond of each other. White-coat was a great home
body, but Blue-feather liked to travel.

One day Blue-feather said to White-coat, "I want to see the world. This
place is very tame. I have lived here all my life (he was only six
months old) and have seen all there is to see. I want to visit other
countries."

"Don't go, Blue-feather," said White-coat. "We have all we want to eat
here, everyone is kind, and we have a good home. I have heard that in
other places men set traps for birds or shoot them, and that sometimes
large hawks swoop down and carry them off. You might be caught out in a
storm and find no shelter; besides, it would almost kill me to be
separated from you long. You might be able to bear it, but not I.
Surely it is best to stay at home."

Just then a crow cawed. "Do you hear that crow, brother?" asked
White-coat. "It seems to say, 'You will be sorry if you go.' Do not go.
Take his warning. See, too, it is raining. If you must go, do put it
off until a better time."

"White-coat, why do you make such a fuss about nothing? I shall not be
gone more than three days; then you shall hear of all the wonderful
things I saw. I shall tell what happened to me from the beginning of my
journey until its close. It will be almost as good as going yourself."

"I do not care about the world," said White-coat. "How can I let you
go! You will find me watching for you at whatever time of day or night
you reach home. I can not eat, I can not sleep, with you away."

At this, they said a sad good-by to each other, and Blue-feather flew
away.

A dark cloud covered the sky. Blue-feather looked about for shelter. He
flew to the only tree near, but its leaves could not keep off the
driving rain, so his coat was wet through and through.

When the sky was clear again, Blue-feather left the tree and dried his
plumage as he