One night, I read it, and moved to tears, I believe it could move you also, I"d like to share it with you.
--Lotos (www.beirong.com)
Welcome back, Traveler!
Each spring, Jerry watched for wild geese. He like to hear them honking when they flew over the farm. How wild and free they seemed! They were on the way to their summer homes in the North.
In the fall, Jerry saw had heard the geese again. They were going south to their winter homes.
Jerry"s father kept ducks and geese. But the farm birds were fat and lazy. Jerry liked the wild ones better. He wished he had a wild goose.
One fall, he found one! It lay on the ground near the river. A hunter had shot it in the wing.
At first Jerry thought the goose was dead. But when he touched it, the bird opened its eyes.
Jerry picked up the big goose and carried it home. When his mother saw the bird, she said to it, "Poor traveler! You must stop here for a long rest."
"Traveler!" said Jerry. "I"m going to call him that. May I take care of him, Mother?"
"Yes," said his mother. "Put him in the barn. Give him water and mash. He can stay with us until he is well."
In a few days, Traveler was walking around the farm. But he could not fly. His hurt wing dragged on the ground.
Wild geese were still flying by. Jerry often saw Traveler look up at them. When they honked, Traveler honked back. Once, some of the wild birds flew down to see him. But they soon went away.
At last Traveler stopped looking up. He seem to think, "I may as well make the best of things here." He stayed at the farm all winter.
Traveler loved Jerry. He took food from Jerry"s hand and followed him everywhere. He was also good friends with the farm dog and cat. He even baby-sat with the kittens when their mother was not with them!
Jerry"s father wanted Traveler to choose one of the farm geese as a mate. But Traveler did not care for any of them.
One day in early spring, he walked down the road to the next farm. When Traveler came back, a pretty little gray goose was with him! Jerry"s father paid the farmer for the little goose. Jerry named her Prissy.
Prissy made a nest in a barrel. She laid ten eggs in the nest. Day after day she sat on the eggs, keeping them warm.
Traveler stayed by her. He tried to drive everyone away from the nest. He did not want even Jerry to come near.
Traveler and Prissy took turns going to the river. Traveler had to walk to it, because of his hurt wing.
One day Traveler was having his bath while Prissy sat on the eggs. He must have thought he heard Prissy call him. He was flew. His wing was well again! He seem as surprised about it as Jerry was.
From that time on, Traveler flew all over the farm. Jerry was happy that the goose could fly again. But the boy was sad, too. He knew that now Traveler might want to fly away with the wild geese.
Jerry was right. In the fall, Traveler heard the honking of the first geese that passed over the farm. He started to shake all over. Then away he flew after the wild birds.
"Good-by, Traveler," Jerry called sadly. He watched the sky for a long time.
That night, Prissy would not eat. In two days she was a sick bird. She sat alone, with her head down. Her babies were grown up now. she had not made friends with the other farm geese. She wanted Traveler back.
In three days, he did come back! The call of the wild geese had been strong. But his love for Prissy was strong, too.
How glad he was to see her! And how happy Prissy seemed! She got well at once. She and Traveler went to the river to splash and play together.
Traveler had made up his mind. Now he was not just making the best of things. The farm, where Prissy and Jerry lived, WAS the best place for him!
Based on So Long, Voyageur!, by Gerald Movius
The Reader"s Digest, December "53 (from Nature Magazine)