96 KATHERINE.

“Stand up straight!” said a third, shaking his pencil
menacingly at her.

“Hold up your head !” directed another.

Poor Katherine was shaking with terror, not knowing
what to do next, and presently began to cry with fright.

“Hush up!” “Stop that!’ came from every side, while
Katherine’s tears rolled down her cheeks faster and faster.

“Come here!” called one of the birds.

And Katherine, who never liked to obey any one the
moment she was bidden to, began slowly to walk toward the
bird.

“Come on!” called he. “Mind me!”

“T am minding you,” she answered. “I am coming.”

“That is not the way to mind,” said the bird. “ You are
minding because you are afraid not to mind, and you mean
when you mind that way that you don’t want to. When you
take your own time it is not minding. Come, I say !”

At this the rest of the birds crowded up so close behind
her that she was obliged to go fast to get out of their way.

“Look at this,” said the bird, holding out the drawing he
had just made.

Katherine looked at the picture, and saw what seemed to be
herself, but with such an ugly, cross expression, that she felt
quite mortified.

“That is the way you looked when you were scolding the
baby,” said the bird.