THE VAIN SPARROWS.

Once upon a time, so many days ago that it really makes no difference as to exactly when it did happen, a very respectable and industrious couple by the name of Sparrow lived a short distance in the country. They had a cozy little home in a tree so stout that there was no need of insuring it against damage by wind, and they were not only contented with their lot in life, but were very happy.

They were by no means ignorant of the city, which could be seen from the topmost branches of their home, for they had lived there in their younger days, moving into the country only when they felt it absolutely necessary to their comfort to get away from the bustle and confusion that almost distracted them.

Their friends and acquaintances all said they were very foolish to hide themselves in such a quiet place, even if it was cozy, and tried to persuade them to move back to town; but they paid very little attention to such talk, hardly even making any answer, and when they had two little fluffy children, Mrs. Sparrow declared that nothing could tempt her to leave their country home. You see, she thought it would be better to keep the children at that place, where she could be sure that they would not be out late at night, or get into mischief, than to take them where they might make bad acquaintances, for she loved these two boys of hers very dearly, even though they had got only about half as many wing and tail feathers as they would have when they were older.

But the strangest portion of the story is that these two young Sparrows not only thought they knew quite as much as their parents did, but they had an idea that the only place for Sparrows with any degree of spirit to live in was the city, and almost from the time their noses were poked out of the shell they coaxed their father and mother to move into town, where there was more to be seen and enjoyed. Whenever the children teased, old father Sparrow would shake his head knowingly, as if he did not even dare to tell how wicked the great city was, and mother Sparrow would offer to show them a nice fat worm if they would try and be contented at home, instead of wanting to go where they had no business, and where they would not be nearly so comfortable.

The Sparrow boys always took the worm their mother offered, and they winked at each other while they were eating it, as if to say that their father was getting entirely too old to know what was best for boys, while they were very certain they knew exactly what they should or should not do.

They thought so much about the city, and how nice it would be to live there, that they talked of very little else, and on several occasions even neglected to oil their feathers as they had been taught, which caused them to look anything rather than neat.

One morning, after they had teased their father, and been given a feast by their mother, which saved them the labor of hunting for breakfast, they accidentally came upon a pretty little stream whose waters were as clear as crystal, and along the banks of which was a rail fence that made a capital roosting place. Here, of course, they began to talk over the city life they were so anxious to lead, when one of them chanced to see his reflection in the water.

The image he saw was that of two rather ragged, untidy-looking birds; but he knew it was a reflection of himself and his brother, and he thought it was about as beautiful as anything that could be imagined.

"There! that is what I call a good-looking bird; not too young, nor yet too old; a good-shaped head, delicate feet, and a coat that will be just about perfect after I get through moulting."

Then the two looked at the reflections very critically, seeing points of beauty in each that had never even been suspected by their mother, and praising themselves and each other until the flowers almost hung their heads in shame that their cousins the birds could be so vain. If they had thought they saw the image of any one but themselves, they would very soon have discovered that the tails were not as long or broad as they should have been, that the wings were ragged-looking because of the pin-feathers, that they were untidy, and a dozen other glaring faults; but as it was, they thought it was not possible any other birds could be so beautiful.

"I'll tell you what we can do," said the elder, after he had satisfied himself that what made him look cross-eyed was the rippling of the water rather than a personal defect; "we can go over to the city for one day without letting father or mother know anything about it. We will start early, and if we don't create a sensation, I am very much mistaken in my ideas of the world."

Both these young Sparrows knew that it was very wrong for them to go away without their parents' permission; but the desire to show their beautiful figures to the city birds, and see a bit of the world at the same time, caused them to put such an idea out of their minds as far as possible. It was not such a very long journey, and there seemed to be hardly a chance that they would be missed; but even if they were, it was quite certain no one would mistrust where they had gone.

While they were making preparations for the journey—and they had considerable to do in the way of consulting some friends as to the best course to fly, laying by a store of food in order not to be delayed in the start, and attending to their toilets—they said nothing to their parents relative to their desire to live in the city. This pleased their mother greatly, for she hoped they had given up such a foolish idea.

At last everything was in readiness, and making some excuse to their parents, such as that they were going out for berries or on a butterfly-hunt, they started toward the city. It was a much longer journey than they had supposed, for from their home it seemed as if the city was close at hand; but neither of them thought of turning back, even though they were terribly tired.

The younger was in favor of alighting on Broadway, where they could be seen by every one, but the elder was much wiser.

"We will fly to the top of the City Hall, and we shall not have been there many moments before half the Sparrows in town will know of our arrival, and after that I do not fancy we shall have much trouble in making the acquaintance of the most distinguished birds in town."

Therefore they did not stop in their flight until the building in question was reached, although they saw many strange and curious things that they were anxious to investigate.

"Now get right on the edge of the roof, and see how quickly people will find out we are here," said the elder, as he gave a little shake of his tail to make sure each feather was in sight.

In one particular he was correct: they were noticed very quickly, although hardly in the way he had supposed. In less than five minutes from the time they first took possession of their lofty perch a party of young city Sparrows came up to arrange their feathers in the latest fashion after having taken their noonday bath.

"Will you look at those birds?" cried one, with a laugh and a twitter, as he shook his wings in the direction of the new-comers. "They must have worn those same feathers since last spring, they are so out of style."

Then another spoke of the wretched taste displayed in the cut of the strangers' tails, while the third actually crowded against the country Sparrows until he nearly pushed them from the roof.

The visitors were very angry, but they did not dare to say anything; for as many as a dozen other city fellows had joined the first party, all of whom made all possible sport of these two who had thought themselves so beautiful, until an old gray-headed Sparrow, who was carrying a large bug to his wife, stopped to see what the matter was.

He very soon obliged the pert young city fellows to stop their nonsense, and then asked the strangers where they came from, and how they chanced to be there. It was some time before the two vain birds would tell their story; but they did so at last, and when they had finished, the old bird said:

"In the first place, you deserve very much harsher treatment than you have received, because of having come here against your parents' wishes. Go home at once, and remember that it is much safer to trust to what your father says than to try to find out for yourselves. As to your beauty, of that you should allow others to judge. There is an old maxim which comes very near the truth, and that is, 'Handsome is who handsome does,' the true meaning of which I think you can now readily understand."

The birds were ashamed of themselves almost before the old gentleman had finished speaking, and just as soon as it was possible for them to leave him they started for home, where they have ever since remained, studying the maxim, and trying to profit by it.