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in it。 It ain't much； but she saves it up to buy shoes for me。
And there's baby coming on famously； and he'll want shoes soon。
And every sixpence is somethingain't it； sir？〃
〃To be sure； my man。 I hope you'll always make as good a use
of your money。〃
〃I hope so； sir；〃 said Diamond。
〃And here's a book for you； full of pictures and stories and poems。
I wrote it myself； chiefly for the children of the hospital where
I hope Nanny is going。 I don't mean I printed it； you know。
I made it；〃 added Mr。 Raymond； wishing Diamond to understand that he
was the author of the book。
〃I know what you mean。 I make songs myself。 They're awfully silly；
but they please baby； and that's all they're meant for。〃
〃Couldn't you let me hear one of them now？〃 said Mr。 Raymond。
〃No； sir； I couldn't。 I forget them as soon as I've done with them。
Besides； I couldn't make a line without baby on my knee。 We make
them together； you know。 They're just as much baby's as mine。
It's he that pulls them out of me。〃
〃I suspect the child's a genius；〃 said the poet to himself；
〃and that's what makes people think him silly。〃
Now if any of my child readers want to know what a genius is
shall I try to tell them； or shall I not？ I will give them one
very short answer： it means one who understands things without
any other body telling him what they mean。 God makes a few such
now and then to teach the rest of us。
〃Do you like riddles？〃 asked Mr。 Raymond； turning over the leaves
of his own book。
〃I don't know what a riddle is；〃 said Diamond。
〃It's something that means something else； and you've got to find
out what the something else is。〃
Mr。 Raymond liked the old…fashioned riddle best； and had written a few
one of which he now read。
I have only one foot； but thousands of toes；
My one foot stands； but never goes。
I have many arms； and they're mighty all；
And hundreds of fingers； large and small。
From the ends of my fingers my beauty grows。
I breathe with my hair； and I drink with my toes。
I grow bigger and bigger about the waist；
And yet I am always very tight laced。
None e'er saw me eat I've no mouth to bite；
Yet I eat all day in the full sunlight。
In the summer with song I shave and quiver；
But in winter I fast and groan and shiver。
〃Do you know what that means； Diamond？〃 he asked； when he had finished。
〃No； indeed； I don't；〃 answered Diamond。
〃Then you can read it for yourself； and think over it； and see
if you can find out；〃 said Mr。 Raymond； giving him the book。
〃And now you had better go home to your mother。 When you've found
the riddle； you can come again。〃
If Diamond had had to find out the riddle in order to see
Mr。 Raymond again； I doubt if he would ever have seen him。
〃Oh then；〃 I think I hear some little reader say； 〃he could not have
been a genius； for a genius finds out things without being told。〃
I answer； 〃Genius finds out truths； not tricks。〃 And if you do
not understand that； I am afraid you must be content to wait till
you grow older and know more。
CHAPTER XXIII
THE EARLY BIRD
WHEN Diamond got home he found his father at home already； sitting by
the fire and looking rather miserable； for his head ached and he
felt sick。 He had been doing night work of late； and it had not agreed
with him； so he had given it up； but not in time； for he had taken
some kind of fever。 The next day he was forced to keep his bed；
and his wife nursed him； and Diamond attended to the baby。 If he
had not been ill； it would have been delightful to have him at home；
and the first day Diamond sang more songs than ever to the baby；
and his father listened with some pleasure。 But the next he could
not bear even Diamond's sweet voice； and was very ill indeed；
so Diamond took the baby into his own room； and had no end of quiet
games with him there。 If he did pull all his bedding on the floor；
it did not matter； for he kept baby very quiet； and made the bed
himself again； and slept in it with baby all the next night； and many
nights after。
But long before his father got well； his mother's savings were
all but gone。 She did not say a word about it in the hearing
of her husband； lest she should distress him； and one night；
when she could not help crying； she came into Diamond's room that
his father might not hear her。 She thought Diamond was asleep；
but he was not。 When he heard her sobbing； he was frightened；
and said
〃Is father worse； mother？〃
〃No； Diamond；〃 she answered； as well as she could； 〃he's a good
bit better。〃
〃Then what are you crying for； mother？〃
〃Because my money is almost all gone；〃 she replied。
〃O mammy； you make me think of a little poem baby and I learned
out of North Wind's book to…day。 Don't you remember how I bothered
you about some of the words？〃
〃Yes； child；〃 said his mother heedlessly； thinking only of what she
should do after to…morrow。
Diamond began and repeated the poem； for he had a wonderful memory。
A little bird sat on the edge of her nest；
Her yellow…beaks slept as sound as tops；
That day she had done her very best；
And had filled every one of their little crops。
She had filled her own just over…full；
And hence she was feeling a little dull。
〃Oh； dear！〃 she sighed； as she sat with her head
Sunk in her chest； and no neck at all；
While her crop stuck out like a feather bed
Turned inside out； and rather small；
〃What shall I do if things don't reform？
I don't know where there's a single worm。
〃I've had twenty to…day； and the children five each；
Besides a few flies； and some very fat spiders：
No one will say I don't do as I preach
I'm one of the best of bird…providers；
But where's the use？ We want a storm
I don't know where there's a single worm。〃
〃There's five in my crop；〃 said a wee； wee bird；
Which woke at the voice of his mother's pain；
〃I know where there's five。〃 And with the word
He tucked in his head； and went off again。
〃The folly of childhood；〃 sighed his mother；
〃Has always been my especial bother。〃
The yellow…beaks they slept on and on
They never had heard of the bogy To…morrow；
But the mother sat outside； making her moan
She'll soon have to beg； or steal； or borrow。
For she never can tell the night before；
Where she shall find one red worm more。
The fact； as I say； was； she'd had too many；
She couldn't sleep； and she called it virtue；
Motherly foresight； affection； any
Name you may call it that will not hurt you；
So it was late ere she tucked her head in；
And she slept so late it was almost a sin。
But the little fellow who knew of five
Nor troubled his head about any more；
Woke very early； felt quite alive；
And wanted a sixth to add to his store：
He pushed his mother； the greedy elf；
Then thought he had better try for himself。
When his mother awoke and had rubbed her eyes；
Feeling less like a bird； and more like a mole；
She saw him fancy with what surprise
Dragging a huge worm out of a hole！
'Twas of this same hero the proverb took form：
'Tis the early bird that catches the worm。
〃There； mother！〃 said Diamond； as he finished； 〃ain't it funny？〃
〃I wish you were like that little bird； Diamond； and could catch
worms for yourself；〃 said his mother； as she rose to go and look
after her husband。
Diamond lay awake for a few minutes； thinking what he could do
to catch worms。 It was very little trouble to make up his mind；
however； and still less to go to sleep after it。
CHAPTER XXIV
ANOTHER EARLY BIRD
HE GOT up in the morning as soon as he heard the men moving
in the yard。 He tucked in his little brother so that he could
not tumble out of bed； and then went out； leaving the door open；
so that if he should cry his mother might hear him at once。
When he got into the yard he found the stable…door just opened。
〃I'm the early bird； I think；〃 he said to himself。 〃I hope I shall
catch the worm。〃
He would not ask any one to help him； fearing his project might meet
with disapproval and opposition。 With great di