THE PINCH OF SALT

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12621, 4 December 1926, Page 16

THE PINCH OF SALT

Nat pulled on his hat and trotted down the garden. In one hand he carried a big cardboard box, and in the other a bag of salt. Nat was going to catch a bird. Uncle Harry had said at teatime that if you put salt on a bird’s tail yoi* catch him. Nat had found an old bird’s cage up in the attic a few days ago. It would be so nice if he could get a real bird to put in it. Over the lawn went Nat, stepping as quietly as he could. There were four birds up in the elm tree by the wall, but although Nat stood still for a long, long time, not one of them came down. They only chirped and looked at him, and then looked at each other, as much as to say, ‘‘We know all about that salt game, and we’re not going to let'him get at our tails, are we?” So Nat hid the box and the bag of salt behind him, and trotted down into the apple orchard, and then his heart jumped into his mouth. There was a lovely, pretty yellow bird hopping about. Nat got behind a tree, and then, when the bird was not looking his way, he began to creep up towards it. One step—two steps—three steps—the bird hopped a little way off, but didn’t look round. Four steps—five steps—six steps—the bird looked round, and Nat stood quite still. Its twinkly little eyes were fixed on him, but it did not seem a bit afraid. So Nat went forward. When he had gone ten steps be reached the bird. Then Nat carefully took a pinch of salt between his fingers and bent down and put it on the bird’s tail. And it didn’t fly’ away! “Oh!” said Nat. “I’m going to catch it!” And in a twinkling he had the bird inside his box! And it was only just then that he noticed it had a little piece of paper tied round its leg. Feeling very excited, Nat took it oft and read it. This is what he read: “Please, I would like to be friends with you. —Betty.” Nat tumbled through the orchard and scrambled up the wall ■ at the end. Betty was the new little girl who had come to live next door, and Nat had often wanted to play with her. On the other side of the wall was Betty . “Hullo!” she said. “Did you find my canary?” “Oh!” said Nat. “Was it your bird?” He opened his box, and the canary flew straight to Betty and nestled in her hand. Nat felt a little' disappointed at first. But then Betty smiled at him, and Nat decided he would much rather have a new friend than a bird. “I got your message,” he said. “And I would love to be friends. When can you come over and play?” iiiHiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiisiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiii