Friday Fables

The Fable of the Magpieby Barry J. Northern There was once a magpie who built a nest for himself and his wife. It was a good nest, and they were happy. In their first two Springs they raised healthy clutches, and were proud each time their children left the nest. Yet Husband was not content."Will each year be the same as this?" he asked his wife."Are you not happy then, Husband?"But he only said, "I am, my love," for he did not wish to upset his wife.Later that day, Husband flew abroad searching for something with which to adorn his nest, for it was dull to his eyes, and he wished to improve it. He chanced upon a shiny object, and though he knew not what it was, he admired it, and so flew down to retrieve it in his beak.Back at the nest, his wife looked up at Husband's return. "What have you there, Husband?"He saw his own love for the shiny object reflected in her eyes. "Something to adorn our nest, my love," he said, and worked the object into the walls of their nest. He stood back to admire it, and said. "N