[CHAPTER XIII] _The King Bird_
More and more magnificence was unfolded as they advanced into thisveritable fairyland of the birds. Vines of silver climbed up the goldentrunks of trees and mingled their twining threads with the brilliantleaves. And now upon the trees appeared jewelled blossoms that sparkledmost exquisitely in the rosy-hued radiance that, in this favored spot,had taken the place of sunshine. There were beds of plants withwide-spreading leaves that changed color constantly, one hue slowlymelting into another and no two leaves on the same plant having thesame color at the same time. Yet in spite of the vivid coloring thatprevailed everywhere, each combination seemed in perfect harmony andserved to delight the senses.
Bushes that emitted a grateful fragrance bore upon slender brancheslittle bells that at times tinkled in the perfumed breeze and playedsweet melodies, while here and there were clusters of fountain-liliesthat shot sprays of crystal water high into the air. When the waterfell back again and the drops struck against the broad leaves of theplants, they produced a melodious sound that was so delightful thatTwinkle thought she could listen to it for hours.
Their guide flew silently on, and the two children were so much amazedby their surroundings that they had no words for questions or evenremarks.
The scene was ever shifting and becoming more and more lovely andfascinating, and the paradise was more extensive than they had thoughtit.
By and bye Ephel the Messenger approached the central part, where was agreat arbor thickly covered with masses of pure white flowers. Some ofthese were large, like chrysanthemums and mammoth white double roses,while among them were twined smaller and more delicate blossoms, likethe bells of lilies-of-the-valley.
Ephel entered the arch of the arbor and flew on, for it was of greatextent and continually enlarged from the point of entrance, so that atlast the child-larks found themselves in a lofty circular chamberbanked on sides and roof with solid masses of the snow-white flowers,which filled the air with a sweet and agreeable perfume. The floor wasalso a mass of white blossoms, so that the place resembled the insideof a huge cornucopia.
But the eyes of the little strangers were not directed so much to thearbor itself as to the group of splendid birds that occupied theflower-chamber and perched upon a wide-spreading bush of filigree goldthat rose from the middle of the floor and spread its dainty branchesin every direction.
On the lower branches sat many birds of marvellous colorings, somehaving blue the predominant tint in their feathers, and others green,or scarlet, or brilliant yellows. In strong contrast with these were afew modest-looking birds with soft brown feathers covering theirgraceful forms, that sat silently upon the lowest and most retiredbranch of the golden bush; but still greater was the contrast of allpresent with the magnificence of the one occupying the topmost branch.
This gorgeous creature, whose splendor dominated the white bower, atonce won the children's attention, and they had no doubt they weregazing upon the King Bird of Paradise.
The feathers of his head and neck were so fine that they looked like acovering of velvet. These seemed to be, at first, of a delicatelavender color, but the children observed that they shone with adifferent tint at every movement the King made. The body feathers, alsoas glossy as velvet, were of a rich royal purple, shading to lavenderand then to white upon his breast. His wing plumes were white, tippedwith specks of lustrous gold.
But by far the most astonishing part of the King's plumage was thatwhich consisted of the dainty, fern-like plumes that rose from his bodyand tail and spread in graceful and bewildering curves both right andleft, until his form seemed to be standing in a feathery bower ofresplendent beauty. All the colors of the rainbow were seen in thesedelicate feathers, and against the white background of the arch thismonarch of the feathered world appeared more royally magnificent thanany words can describe.
Both Twinkle and Chubbins gasped with amazement and delight as, at thecommand of Ephel, they alighted upon a lowly branch of the golden bushand bowed their heads before the ruler of the birds' fairyland.
"Ah, whom have we here?" asked the King, in a soft voice, as hestrutted and proudly turned himself upon his perch.
"Strangers, your Majesty," answered the Messenger. "They are sent toyou by the Guardian of the Entrance because they are gentle andinnocent, and are neither birds nor mortals, but a part of both."
"They are certainly very curious," remarked the King, staring at thehuman heads upon the lark bodies. "May I ask you, little strangers, howyou happen to exist in your present form?"
Twinkle, tossing her head to throw back a straggling lock of hair thathad fallen across her eyes, began in her sweet voice to tell the storyof their enchantment, and not only the King but all the Birds ofParadise present listened intently to her words.
When she had finished the King exclaimed:
"Indeed, my dear child-larks, you are worthy to be our guests infairyland. So it will please me if you will be as happy and comfortableas possible, and enjoy your stay with us as much as you can. My peoplewill delight to honor and amuse you, and Ephel shall continue to guideyou wherever you go."
"Thank you," returned Twinkle, earnestly; and Chubbins added, in hisblunt way: "Much obliged."
"But, before you go," continued his Majesty, "tell me what you think ofmy royal person. Am I not beautiful?"
"You are, indeed," replied Twinkle; "only--"
"Only what?" asked the King, as she hesitated.
"Only I'm sorry you are so vain, and strut around so, and want everyoneto see how beautiful you are."
"Why should I not? Is not vanity one of the great virtues?" asked theKing, in a surprised voice.
"My mama says people ought not to think themselves nice, or pretty,"said the child. "With us, to be vain is a fault, and we are taught tobe modest and unassuming."
"How remarkable!" exclaimed the King. "And how very thoughtless yourmother must be. Here we think that if God creates us beautiful it is asin not to glory in His work, and make everyone acknowledge the kindlyskill of the Supreme Maker's hand. Should I try to make others think,or should I myself think, that I am not most gracefully formed and mostgorgeously clothed, I would be guilty of the sin of not appreciatingthe favor of God, and deserve to be punished."
Twinkle was amazed, but could find no words to contradict thisastonishing idea.
"I had not thought of it in that way," she answered. "Perhaps I amwrong, your Majesty; and certainly you are very beautiful."
"Think it over," said the King, graciously. "Learn to be grateful forevery good thing that is yours, and proud that you have been selectedby Nature for adornment. Only in this way may such rare favors bedeserved. And now the royal Messenger will show you the sights of ourParadise, and try to entertain you pleasantly while you are ourguests."
He turned aside, with these words, and fluttered his waving feathers sothat their changing tints might dazzle the eyes of all observers. Butimmediately afterward he paused and cried out:
"Dear me! One of my wing plumes is disarranged. Help me, you ladies!"
At once the small brown birds on the lower branches, who had beenmodestly quiet because they had no gay plumage, flew up to the King andwith their bills skillfully dressed his feathers, putting the wingplume into its place again and arranging it properly, while the otherbirds looked on with evident interest.
As the lark-children turned away to follow the Messenger Chubbinsremarked:
"I'm glad _I_ haven't got all those giddy feathers."
"Why?" asked Twinkle, who had been rather awed by the King's splendor.
"Because it would take all my time to keep 'em smooth," answered theboy. "The poor King can't do much more than admire himself, so he don'tget time to have fun."