SOMETIMES HE WOKE UP IN THE NIGHT AND WOULD SING FOR VERY JOY




THE ADVENTURES OF MISTAH MOCKER




I


THE LONE TRAVELER

When Mistress Spring starts from way down South to bring joy and gladness
to the Green Meadows and the Green Forest, the Laughing Brook and the
Smiling Pool, a great many travelers start with her or follow her. Winsome
Bluebird goes just a little way ahead of her, for Winsome is the herald of
Mistress Spring. Then comes Honker the Goose, and all the world hearing his
voice from way, way, up in the blue, blue sky knows that truly Mistress
Spring is on her way. And with her come Little Friend the Song Sparrow, and
Cheerful Robin and Mr. and Mrs. Redwing. Then follow other travelers, ever
so many of them, all eager to get back to the beautiful Green Forest and
Green Meadows.

Now there are a few feathered folk who think the far away South is quite
good enough for them to live there all the year round. Ol' Mistah Buzzard
used to think that way. Indeed, he used to think that there was no place
like the dear "Ol' Souf," and it wasn't until he went looking for his old