to the river again, you save almost half a mile and get the cattle much
sooner."

"Oh, you are a fortunate man!" cried Great Claus. "Do you think I could
get some sea cattle if I were to go down to the bottom of the river?"

"I'm sure you would," said Little Claus. "But I cannot carry you. If you
will walk to the river and creep into a sack yourself, I will help you
into the water with a great deal of pleasure."

"Thanks!" said Great Claus. "But if I do not find sea cattle there, I
shall beat you soundly, you may be sure."

"Oh! do not be so hard on me."

And so they went together to the river. When the cows and oxen saw the
water, they ran to it as fast as they could. "See how they hurry!" cried
Little Claus. "They want to get back to the bottom again."

"Yes, but help me first or I'll thrash you," said Great Claus. He then
crept into a big sack, which had been lying across the back of one of
the cows. "Put a big stone in or I'm afraid I shan't sink."

"Oh, that'll be all right," said Little Claus, but he put a big stone
into the sack and gave it a push. Plump! and there lay Great Claus in
the river. He sank at once to the bottom.

"I'm afraid he won't find the cattle," said Little Claus. Then he drove
homeward with his herd.

NOTES

THE STORKS

PAGE 29. On account of the ravages it makes among
noxious animals, the stork is a privileged bird
wherever it makes its home. In cities it is
sometimes trained to act as scavenger. In Denmark,
Holland, and Germany it is always a welcome guest.
Boxes are placed upon roofs in the hope that nests
may be made in them, for it is considered a sign
of good fortune to have a stork's nest on one's
roof.

The stork is noted for its great affection for its
young and especially for the care it is said to
give to its parents in their old age. It has no
song, and is in no sense a bird to love, though it
may become quite tame.

PAGE 37. The nurses in that country tell the
children that the stork brings the little new
babies.

THE WILD SWANS

PAGE 56. _Fata Morgana_ (fae'ta mor gae'nae): a
singular appearance, or phenomenon, similar to the
mirage of the desert; images of objects distorted
or multiplied into fanciful shapes. This
phenomenon was