The Crippled Sparrow

O NE morning a little city sparrow who had in some way hurt his wing, fell from his home in a tree down to the sidewalk. Many people were passing, and the poor little creature fluttered and tumbled about trying to get out of the way. His cries brought other sparrows around him, and soon it seemed as if all the sparrows in that part of the city had come to see what was the matter, and offer their help.

Presently two of the sparrows tried to lift the poor, lame fellow by seizing his wings in their bills, but that plan would not work. Then the whole flock began to chatter at a great rate, and at last they flew away. Soon one came back with a twig about five inches long. This he dropped before the lame bird, and then two of the sparrows took hold of it with their bills, and held it so that the lame one could catch hold of the middle with his bill. This the little fellow did, and as soon as he had a firm hold the other two flew away with him between them, over the fence into the park, and then into the woodbine, which covered a great oak that stood there. Here the flock of friends followed, twittering and chirping with great joy, nor did they go away until they were certain the little cripple was well taken care of.