"We have a Brotherhood of Learning here, sir," returned the Professor;
"we are all Progressionists. I trust you will remain with us and
take part in our assemblies." But, as he said that, the fairy bird
suddenly lifted up his song and warned the traveler, crying in the
language of the country beyond the sunset, "Beware! beware! This
is an ogre, he will kill you, and mix your bones with his bread!
Be warned in time, and fly; fly, if you cannot fight!"

"Dear me," said the Professor, "what a very remarkable note! I am
convinced that the structure and disposition of this bird's vocal
organs must be unique. Speaking for my scientific brethren, as
well as for myself, I may say that we should hold ourselves singularly
indebted to you if you would permit us the opportunity of adding
so rare a specimen to our national collection. It would be an
acquisition, sir, I assure you, for which we would show ourselves
profoundly grateful. Indeed, I am sure that the Society to which
I have the honor to belong would readily admit to its Fellowship
the donor of a treasure so inestimable." As he spoke, he fixed his
eyes on the traveler, and bowed with much ceremony and condescension.
And the traveler thought what a fine thing it would be to become
a Professor, and to be able to wear a great many bits of colored
ribbon, and to be immensely learned, and know all the facts of the
universe. And, after all, what was a little singing bird, and a
fairy Princess, in whose very existence the scientific gentlemen
did not in the least believe, and who was, perhaps, really the
shadow of a dream? So he bowed in return, and said he was greatly
honored; and Professor Effaress took the bird and twisted its neck
gravely, and put the little corpse into his pocket. And so the
divine and beautiful song of the fairy minstrel was quenched, and
instead of it I suppose the traveler got a great deal of learning