  The whole town was searching for the two missing boys. No one could imagine what had happened to them. “We shall never see them again!” sobbed their mothers. But they did see them. That very day, when the little birds had gone to sleep in their nests, and the crickets chirped by the roadside, while night and the stars looked down upon the earth, the two tired and hungry boys appeared. Their mothers and fathers were overjoyed at their safe return. All the townspeople crowded about them. But the people could hardly believe the strange story they told. “Father Thrift! Father Thrift!” they cried. “Why, it cannot be!” For this was none other than the quaint old town in which the queer little old man had lived for so many years. “Upon our word and honor!” said the boys earnestly. “See, we cross our hearts.” And they did. This seemed to satisfy most of the villagers that the boys were telling the truth. “Still, the forest is dense with trees and brush,” said one old man, shaking his head doubtfully. “And it is alive with wild and dangerous animals. “Not one of us has ever dared to go beyond the edge of that forest. How could Father Thrift live there?” “Let us not doubt,” said another old man. “We had better follow the advice which has been sent us. “Have we not suffered since Father Thrift left us because we would not take his advice? “We did not appreciate him when he was here. We have learned to appreciate him since he went away.” So the wonderful story was told and retold for miles and miles around. And Father Thrift’s good advice was taken to heart. And the birds came by hundreds to live in the neighborhood. The crops grew better each year. And the people felt happier. Then they pondered the things which Father Thrift had taught them. And they did again as they had done when he was with them. They lived simply, spent wisely, and wasted nothing. And the quaint old town and the country around it grew prosperous, as in the days of old. Then after many days the people said: “We must enter the wood at all costs—even at the risk of our lives. “We must find good Father Thrift and do him honor.” So they went down the crooked road that led to the forest and went in. The two boys led the way. They heard the birds singing in the trees. They saw the squirrels leaping and running. They heard the ripple of the silvery brook. They breathed the perfume of the pine trees and the firs. They traced the footprints of bears, and rabbits, and deer. Every little thing interested them now. They gazed at the tender blue sky above. Never before had it looked so beautiful. Never had the grass seemed so fresh and sweet and green. Nor had the flowers ever seemed so richly colored and so sweetly scented. Truly, the forest was a glorious place! And nowhere—nowhere did they find the dreadful animals which they had lived to fear these many years. But they found a cave, a very strange sort of cave. It had two windows and a door. Inside were two beds and two chairs, and a table and a fireplace. On the wall hung a home-made calendar. Just outside the door was a high bench or table, and back of it stood a tree stump. “This is the place where Father Thrift lived,” said the boys. “How well we remember it!” But Father Thrift was not there now. The place was vacant. “The queer little old man must have gone to live in the beautiful, happy, sunny land of which he often talked,” said one of the men. And the others agreed with him. Still stands the cave in the forest. People from miles and miles away visit it. The guide tells them the wonderful story of Father Thrift and his animal friends. And it seems that with each retelling the story grows more and still more wonderful. And there is a bird that lives in the wood which on moonlight nights, whether he sits on a branch, or hops on the ground, or flies about, is always heard whistling, “Fa-ther Thrift! Fa-ther Thrift!” Many people misunderstand and think that he is saying, “Whip-poor-will! Whip-poor-will!” But why any one should wish to whip any one else I do not know. For the world is such a happy place. This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will be renamed. 1.F. 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with your written explanation. 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