The Birds' Christmas Carol

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Wiggin Kate Douglas Smith. The Birds' Christmas Carol

I. A LITTLE SNOW BIRD

II. DROOPING WINGS

III. THE BIRDS' NEST

IV "BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER"

V. SOME OTHER BIRDS ARE TAUGHT TO FLY

VI "WHEN THE PIE WAS OPENED, THE BIRDS BEGAN TO SING!"

VII. The Birdling Flies Away

Отрывок из книги

It was December, ten years later.

Carol had seen nine Christmas trees lighted on her birthdays, one after another; nine times she had assisted in the holiday festivities of the household, though in her babyhood her share of the gayeties was somewhat limited.

.....

Love could do nothing; and when we have said that we have said all, for it is stronger than anything else in the whole wide world. Mr. and Mrs. Bird were talking it over one evening, when all the children were asleep. A famous physician had visited them that day, and told them that some time, it might be in one year, it might be in more, Carol would slip quietly off into heaven, whence she came.

"It is no use to close our eyes to it any longer," said Mr. Bird, as he paced up and down the library floor; "Carol will never be well again. It almost seems as if I could not bear it when I think of that loveliest child doomed to lie there day after day, and, what is still more, to suffer pain that we are helpless to keep away from her. Merry Christmas, indeed; it gets to be the saddest day in the year to me!" and poor Mr. Bird sank into a chair by the table, and buried his face in his hands to keep his wife from seeing the tears that would come in spite of all his efforts.

.....