"The Ostrich.

"The ostrich that I'm to tell about was in the Zoo in a big city where
I went once, and he must have been the biggest ostrich that anyone
ever saw.

"He was as big as a horse, and so he ought to have been called a
_hoss_trich.

"His feathers were all the colors that folks wear on their hats,--"
She paused to note what impression she was making, and a doubting small
boy, murmured;

"Oo--o--o!"

Gwen frowned, and commenced to read again.

"The ostrich didn't look much like the big white owl in a cage near
him, because the owl had bigger eyes."

A few of the pupils giggled, and one in the front row muttered.

"I don't suppose there was any difference in their _legs_!"

"The ostrich is graceful,--"

She paused again, because at this absurd statement Dick Minton laughed
aloud.