The Secret of the Purple Feathers

In a far away Kingdom of  birds, the King was very unusual. Most of the birds in his Kingdom had feathers that were, either  yellow, brown, red, orange, or blue, but the king's feathers were purple. Because of His beauty and outstanding kindness to all the others birds, he was voted to become King of the birds. All the birds loved him.  He was very wise and patient, helping them to work out their grievances and to forgive each other.

King Purple bird was getting very old.  He had been King for many years and still there wasn't another purple bird to take his place.  He had hoped by now that one of the birds would have figured out his secret, as to why his feathers were purple, but they hadn't. He began to think to himself, "What is going to happen to my Kingdom when I fly off?  Who will there be to settle arguments and keep the peace in the bird Kingdom?" These thoughts  made King Purple very sad. Maybe he would just have to make public his secret. But no, he thought, I will wait one more season. Perhaps, this Spring there will be one purple feathered baby bird born to be the next King.

 The winter was long and hard that year. The snow and ice had made it extra hard to find enough food. So many of the birds had to fly South to warmer weather.  King Purple bird stayed behind to protect the Kingdom and the  make sure that the BIG BLACK CAT didn't ruin his Kingdom.  In the Spring when the birds began to return, King Purple Bird made sure there was a grand welcome.  Upon their return, King Purple Bird would plan a big feast with all the best bird seeds, peanut butter on pine cones and bird suet.

Spring finally came and it was now time to fly back to King Purple Bird. Outside the palace was a beautiful, mulberry bush just starting to bloom.  Mrs. Red bird and Mrs. Blue bird were arguing over who had the mulberry bush first to build their nest.  They were making so much noise that King Purple bird flew out to see what all the fess was about. "it isn't fair,' said Mrs. blue bird, 'I got to the mulberry bush first." "Oh, no you didn't'  argued Mrs Red bird, 'I started a nest before I left for the winter."  King Purple Bird told the two mommy birds to meet him in the throne room.  He would decide what to do.

'Now ladies, the mulberry bush is big enough for both your nests. Because you can't be nice to each other, you will help each other to build your nests. Do you understand?" questioned  King Purple bird. "yes, your Majesty, we will do as you say."  the two mommies birds agreed. The next few days were very pleasant. The nests were built and the eggs were laid.  The two mommies,  now  were very good friends.waiting for their eggs to hatch. All the baby birds came to hatch at once. Pecking their way out, their little mouths opened, crying for food, Mrs. Red bird, was the first to discover how strange her babies were.  Mrs. Blue  birds babies were also strange looking. Together they flew to the palace to talk with King Purple bird.  "King Purple bird, come quickly. Something is wrong with our babies."  the two mommies cried.

As soon as he saw them, he was incredible happy.  "My dear ladies,' he excitedly said, 'do you know what they are?  I have four heirs to my throne."  What!  exclaimed the two mommies, 'four heirs to your throne? what do you mean?"   The king explained, "Your babies are little purple birds." The two mommies couldn't believe it. How did that happen?  It was like magic.  You see, when you mix blue and red together you get purple. The secret of King Purple had been discovered. While building their nests, the two mommy bird's feathers mixed together and created purple baby birds..The trumpets were blown announcing the birth of the four heirs to King Purple bird. If you are ever out in the woods and you see a purple bird, now you will  know how he got his purple feathers.

Fluff's Beautiful Ears

Fluff was an adorable, white fluffy bunny, who lived with her mommy and daddy in the hollow of an old apple tree. Every day she would get up in the morning, and she would look into the mirror admiring her long, beautiful bunny ears.  Fluff took very good care of her very special ears.She always made sure they were clean, even if her face was dirty. The other little girl bunnies had beautiful long ears too, but Fluff's were extra long, until one morning when she looked into the mirror, she noticed that her ears were getting shorter and shorter. "Mommy," she cried 'my ears are getting shorter and shorter. What is the matter?"  Her older sister's ears were still growing.  How can this be? ' she questioned.  For some reason, only Fluff's ears had stopped growing.

Every morning, Fluff would look into the mirror to see if her ears were growing., but they weren't.
They were just getting shorter and shorter.  By now all the other bunnies were noticing Fluff's short ears. What was she going to do?  "I know,' she thought, 'I will stretch them out.'  So she took her paws and started to pull on her ears. It didn't work.  Her ears didn't change.  Her mommy had told her  'Fluff, if you don't eat your dinner, your ears will get even shorter."  Fluff  didn't want to listen or obey her mother.

As the weeks went by, that was exactly what started to happen. Mommy would prepare a meal for the whole family, but  Fluff would just sit there and not eat.  She only wanted to eat what she wanted to eat, not what her mommy said would help her ears to grow.  Because she didn't listen to her mommy or daddy her ears became shorter, and shorter and shorter.  All the other bunny ears, in the green forest, were growing faster and much prettier.than hers.  Fluff didn't like that.,  She wanted her long, beautiful ears back again.           

One night Fluff dreamed that her dinner plate was completely empty. Everyone else was eating, but she didn't want to. Then, a knock came to the door and Mommy answered it.  It was Hopper, Fluff's best friend. "Hi Hopper. What can I do for you? asked mommy.  "I am very hungry.  My mommy is sick and daddy can't cook.  Can I eat with you?" asked Hopper.  "Why, of course you can.  Fluffy doesn't like to eat any more, so you can eat her dinner." answered mommy.  "Thank you so much, because if I don't eat, my ears will get shorter and shorter, and will look like Fluff's ears."responded Hopper graciously. Fluff suddenly woke up from her dream.  "My ears, my ears, 'it's all my fault.  I don't want to eat and my ears will not grow.   I am going to start eating more than my sister. Fluff, quickly got up from bed, brushed her teeth and stubby ears, and raced down stairs to eat her breakfast.

From then now, there was never an empty plate in front of  Fluff.  In fact, Fluff, began to eat twice as much food as her older sister.  She had discovered an important lesson.  If she didn't  eat, she would never have beautiful, long floppy ears again.  Within a very short time Fluff's ears once again grew to be the longest, floppiest, bunny ears in the whole green forest.  Fluff was often asked how she grew back her beautiful ears. She would politely answer..."I just had to decide to eat and believe the God, who creates little bunnies, tells my mommy what was good for me.."  Fluff shook her beautiful long, floppy ears and hopped down the bunny trail to find Hopper, her best friend.  When  Hopper saw fluff, she was so excited.. "Why Fluff, your ears are beautiful again..  Let's go and show all the bunnies in the green forest your beautiful, long floppy ears."  So that is the story of Fluff, the little bunny who wouldn't eat.  I am so happy that all my little friends eat their Dinners.                                         

Herman's Long Beautiful Tail

Herman was a little field mouse, who lived next door to Freddi and Harry down in the green meadow. When they went out to play together in the green meadow, they were always on their guard for the  BIG BLACK CAT. They never knew where or when he would show up. Freddie and Harry,  wore whistles around their necks, just  in case they got in trouble.  If ever there was a problem, all they had to do was to blow their whistles loud and long. Herman was too proud to wear a whistle.  He thought he could take care of himself.

The father of  Freddie and Harry was the police chief of the green meadow police department, and for years he had kept the green meadow safe from any invasion. In fact, Freddie, Harry, and Herman had to attend all the safety classes before they were allowed to play in the meadow.

Herman was about to learn a very hard lesson. You see, Herman, had the longest tail of all the mice in the whole green forest and he thought he was better than anyone else. He thought his tail made him the fastest runner in the green meadow. Why, sometimes he thought that he was flying.

One afternoon while the boys were out in the meadow playing, the BIG BLACK CAT was lurking in the tall meadow grass, keeping an eye on the boys.  Freddie saw him crouched down watching them, waiting to make his first move. He quickly reached for his whistle and started to blow it loud and long.to warn all the mice in  the meadow.  Herman laughed.  He didn't believe Freddie. Because he didn't see the BIG BLACK CAT,  he ignored the warning and continued to play. Freddi and Harry tried to convince Herman that he had better leave, but Herman wouldn't listen. So, Freddi and Harry obeyed their instruction and left for home.

THE BIG BLACK cat was delighted that Herman didn't listen.  Now he had his chance to corner Herman for himself.  Herman wasn't paying much attention, when suddenly he saw the BIG BLACK CAT spring up out of the tall meadow grass and run toward him.. Immediately, Herman started to run for his house. Just before he reached his home,The BIG BLACK CAT caught Herman by his tail and bit it completely off.  Herman kept running. He didn't even know what had happened. He ran into his house, up stairs and hid under his bed.  Herman was so scared, he was shaking all over. "Why didn't I listen?" he cried to himself. Then he noticed that his tail was gone. "What happened to my long beautiful tail? cried Herman. He was so proud of his long beautiful tail, but it wasn't long any more!

His mother was calling him for supper. " Herman, please come down for supper." she asked politely.  Herman ignored her. Finally, his mother came up stairs looking for Herman.  "I saw you running into the house. Don't you try to hide from me", his mother said.  Herman moving under his bed gave him away.  His mother knew that he was under the bed. "Herman', she said, 'why are you hiding under the bed?"  Slowly, Herman, crawled out from under his bed and faced his mother. "What ever happened to your tail, Herman?" exclaimed his mother.  She was shocked.  Herman was embarrassed to even go down for dinner. "Mother, why can't I eat in my bedroom tonight?" asked Herman hopefully. "No Herman, you have a lot of explaining to do for your father. Now you dry your tears and come down now," answered mother sharply.

At the dinner table that night Herman didn't eat very much.  He wasn't very hungry. It was hard to sit in his chair without his long tail. He missed curling it up under him to sit closer to the table.  His father's expression was very grave.  "How many times, Herman, have you been warned about the dangers in the green meadow? Because you disobeyed, you will have to go to bed early and stay out of green meadow until you have attend the safety classes again." his father told him. Herman agreed that he was wrong and asked forgiveness from his mother and father, but there was still one BIG question. "Daddy' he asked,'do you think my tail will ever grow again?"

Boys and girls, what do you think?  Did Herman's tail ever grow again? Do you think he learned his lesson? Do you think he will wear a whistle now with Freddi and Harry to warn others about the dangers in the green meadows?

The Big Black Cat

Early in the morning when  everyone had left the house, the last one out was the BIG BLACK CAT. Slowly he made his way down into the meadow where he waited for the field mice to come out to play. Now, down in the meadow lived a happy little family of field mice. Freddie was the oldest, Harry his brother and little Harriet, the younger sister.

One morning when Freddie and Harry were still sleeping, little Harriet woke up, dressed herself and went out into the back yard to swing.  She was never allow to go outside alone without her brothers to protect her.  But, this morning she just wanted to do what she wanted to do. When the BIG BLACK CAT  saw her on the swing all alone,  s-l-o-w-l-y he moved through the tall meadow grass without her knowing it, he pounced on her and caught her in his teeth.  Little Harriet began to scream. "Help, help Help!  Her cry woke up the boys sleeping. " Harriet is in trouble'. explained Freddie.  ' It is THE BIG BLACK CAT.  He has captured our sister and carried her off to his cage."  The boys knew immediately what they had to do.  "We will make a trap,"said Freddie.  The two boys went to the garage, found two shovels and started digging a BIG, BIG hole.  When they finished, they covered the hole with branches for a disguise.  "I know' said Harry, ' we can dance around the hole and let the BIG BLACK CAT see us, make him hungry and he will want to eat us too!"  So the two brothers finished the trap and started to dance around the hole, singing songs.  "Oh what a beautiful morning, oh what a beautiful day, everything is going my way"

The BIG BLACK CAT saw the two little mice dancing and thought to himself, 'Can you believe this day?  Another delicious meal coming up!."  So, s-l-o-w-l-y THE BIG BLACK CAT moved through the tall meadow grass.  The mice kept singing, just waiting for their big catch.  Without warning the BIG BLACK CAT jumped out from the tall  grass and landed right on the branches. Down, down, down fell the BIG BLACK CAT into the big hole.  He was mad, really, really mad. The BIG BLACK CAT cried out "Meow,meow, let me out, let me out" The little brothers were so excited.  They danced even harder, singing "WE GOT BIG BLACK CAT, WE GOT THE BIG BLACK CAT."

While the BIG BLACK CAT was trying to get out of an impossible situation, the two little mice ran up the backyard to rescue their little sister Harriet from the cage. Harriet quickly jumped onto Freddie's back and together they ran as fast as he could back to their meadow home. Freddie was very upset with Harriet and told her to go to her bedroom and wait for her mother to talk with her.  Harriet obeyed .  She knew that she was in BIG trouble. Mommy made her stay in her room for the rest of the day until daddy came home from working at the cheese factory.  Then, they both agreed that Harriet would have to go to bed without any dinner or stories before bedtime that night.  How sad it was for Harriet, but she had to learn to obey.

Later that same afternoon, when Bobby came home from school, he was looking for the BIG BLACK CAT, but he couldn't found him anywhere. Then he heard him crying "Meow, meow, let we out, let me out!" At first Bobby didn't actually know where he was. He went out into the backyard and then he heard, "Meow, Meow, let me out, let me out." The BIG BLACK CAT was trapped in a deep hole.  Bobby lifted the BIG BLACK CAT out of the trap.  Holding him firmly in his arms, Bobby scolded the BIG BLACK CAT. "You got just what you deserved.  I have told you a hundred times not to bother the little field mice. You have your cat food. Now you go into the house and stay there."

But, do you think the BIG BLACK CAT ever learned his lesson?  Early the next morning after everyone had left the house, the last one out was the BIG BLACK CAT. Where do you think he headed?  You are right. He headed right down for the meadow where he sat, waiting for the field mice to come out and play.
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