ackbird whistling gaily before a hostelry would know that
within doors was brave cheer and jocund company.

Most of the children in the city had each a bird friend, and it was a
sad day when the wings spread and the songster flew away, for that meant
that in the heart of the child all was not well. Always, however, when
the smiles came back, back came also the little feathered companion.

II

THE FOUR CHILDREN

Now this story is about four children in the city who were friends of
the birds: Bertram and Beryl, Bobus and Aline. They were for the most
part good children, but now and again they made up their little minds
that they knew better than anybody else what was the best thing for
them; and as it generally happened that their elders refused to take the
same view, there came occasionally into their lives intervals of
unhappiness when the whole world was most plainly doing its best to
spoil their fun and treat them altogether badly. At least so it seemed
in the eyes of Bertram and Beryl, Bobus and Aline.

And to those who had the care of Bertram and Beryl, Bobus and Aline, it
was apparent one Monday evening that such an interval was about to
begin. Bertram's governess had the greatest difficulty in persuading
that all-knowing boy that lessons were in the least desirable; Beryl's
mother having refused to buy her a new doll, and thus bring her store of
dolls from fifteen to sixteen, could induce Beryl to fall in with no
plans whatever; and the barometers of Bobus and Aline were unmistakably
at 'Set Sulks,' because they too wanted something which was not good for
them. Thus, one Monday evening, was it with Bertram and Beryl, Bobus and
Aline.

III

THE NEW HOUSE

On the Tuesday morning that followed, the inhabitants of the City of
Birds, when they came downstairs and began the business of the day, were
astonished to find a new shop in the Market Square; astonished, because
no one could remember either what the house was like before, or who had
then lived in it, or indeed that there had been a house there at
all--not even the house-agent, who felt more than a little annoyed in
consequence, deeming himself defrauded of his just fees.

There, however, stood the house, leaving no room for doubt as to its
existence. There it stood, spick and span, with white window-curtains
tied up with red ribbons, and rows of flower-pots on the sills, and a
shining brass handle and knocker on the door, and a dark bl