IN the deep blackout there was a scrum mund A pul Th conductor cried "Full up," and had to ask a very self-confident if she would get off. idi oras In a bored tone she asked, "So what? Have I got to walk?"
"No," said the. conductor. "If yer wait a minute I'll get orf and give yer a piggy-back."
Air-raid Warning A TINY chink of light gleaming through the darkness brought The Robin to The Sparrow's Nest, Adjusting the half walnut shell that served him as a tin hat he rapped smartly on the door. Presently The Sparrow's wife opened "Who is it?" she asked, peering into the gloom. She had been crying again. A big tear ran down her beak and trembled on the tip.
"Warden," said The Robin.
"Oh dear, oh dear," said The Sparrow's wife. "Is there a raid?"
"No," said The Robin, "but there soon will be if you send out signals."
"Signals?" said The Sparrow's wife, "Me?"
"Every light showing is a signal to the enemy," said The Robin.
"Oh, am I showing a light?" asked The Sparrow's wife, "Oh dear, you must think me awful."
"Not at all, not at all," said The Robin, "we all make mistakes."
The Sparrow's wife opened the door a little wider and recognized The Robin.
"Why, if it isn't Mr, Robin," she said. "Oh, do come in."
"I'm on duty, you know," said The Robin.
"Just for a cup of tea," said The Sparrow's wife, "It won't take a minute and Im sure you're cold this dreadful night."
"Well, thank you," said The Robin, stepping in and thumping his little red chest.
"And a nice worm sandwich?" asked The Sparrow's. wife.
"Oh, no, no, said The Robin. "I mustn't intrude."
"You're not intruding at all," said The Sparrow's wife, "and they're ever so nice made with hot toosh and shamrock salad."
"Well, if you insist" said The Robin, "Perhaps I can adjust your curtain for you?"
"Oh, thanks ever so much," said The Sparrow's wife. "I always feel safer with a man in the place. I don't know wh; "Mr. Sparrow out?" asked The Robin.
"Yes," said The Sparrow's wife, another tear starting in her eye. "He's out."
"War work, I expect," suggested The Robin.
"No," said The Sparrow's wife, taking out her handkerchief, "Not exactly war work."
"Probably got caught in the blackout," said The Robin, The Sparrow's wife broke down.
"Come, come, come," said The Robin, "You mustn't ery like th "I can't help it. I'm so miserable."
She buried her beak in his shoulder while he patted her back.
^I suppose he's at The Treetops Club," seid The Robin.
"Every night," said The Sparrow's wife.
"Dear me," said The Robin.
"It seems so awful when others are sacrificing themselves," said The Sparrow's wife. "Look 1t you, out at all hours in the cold and rain."
"It's not for us to judge him," said The Robin, stroking the feathers on top of her head.
A. long-drawn-out warbling note sounded outside The Nest. The Sparrow's wife gave a little scream, The Robin reached for his walnut shell with a shaking claw.
"It's a raid," said The Sparrow's wife. "Don't eave me."
^I must go," said The Robin. "It's my duty."
Outside there was the sound of singing.
"Dear old pals, jolly old pals, Give me the friendship of dear old pals."
"Who's that," asked The Robin.
"It's him," said The Sparrow's wife, "with the Nightjar. They always come home like that,"
Suddenly The Nest was shaken by the impact of a body, and The Sparrow lurched in.
"Tm an air-raid," shouted The Sparrow, giving the warbling note they had heard before. "Who-ce-e-e-e, who-ce-ce-e-ce. Take cover everybody. Who-ce-ce-e-e.
And, knocking The Robin's walnut shell over his eyes with a blow from his wing, The Sparrow fell into the chair by the fire and was instantly asleep.
—Gubbins in the "Sunday Express."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.