HE Goldfinch who lives in Europe is one of the gaudiest of the little feathered brothers. Heis a very Joseph of birds in his coat of many colors, and folk often wonder how he came to havefeathers so much more gorgeous than his kindred. But after you have read this tale you will wonderno longer.You must know that when the Father first made all the birds they were dressed alike in plumage ofsober gray. But this dull uniform pleased Him no more than it did the birds themselves, who beggedthat they might wear each the particular style which was most becoming, and by which they could berecognized afar.So the Father called the birds to Him, one by one, as they stood in line, and dipping His brush in therainbow color-box painted each appropriately in the colors which it wears to-day. (Except, indeed, that some had later adventures which altered their original hues, as you shall hear in due season.)But the Goldfinch did not come with the other birds. That tardy little fellow was busy elsewhere onhis own affairs and heeded not the Father's command to fall in line and wait his turn for being madebeautiful.So it happened that not until the painting was finished and all the birds had flown away to admirethemselves in the water-mirrors of the earth, did the Goldfinch present himself at the Father's feetout of breath."O Father!" he panted, "I am late. But I was so busy! Pray forgive me and permit me to have a prettycoat like the others.""You are late indeed," said the Father reproachfully, "and all the coloring has been done. You shouldhave come when I bade you. Do you not know that it is the prompt bird who fares best? Myrainbow color-box has been generously used, and I have but little of each tint left. Yet I will paintyou with the colors that I have, and if the result be ill you have only yourself to blame."The Father smiled gently as He took up the brush which He had laid down, and dipped it in the firstcolor which came to hand. This He used until there was no more, when He began with anothershade, and so continued until the Goldfinch was completely colored from head to foot. Such agorgeous coat! His forehead and throat were of the most brilliant crimson. His cap and sailor collarwere black. His back was brown and yellow, his breast white, his wings golden set off with velvetblack, and his tail was black with white-tipped feathers. Certainly there was no danger of his beingmistaken for any other bird.When the Goldfinch looked down into a pool and saw the reflection of his gorgeous coat, he burstout into a song of joy. "I like it, oh, I like it!" he warbled, and his song was very sweet. "Oh, I amglad that I was late, indeed I am, dear Father!