"Yes,"said the little dog."My name is Nothing-at-all,and that's what I look like too.I never minded it before,but now I long to look like other dogs so the boy and the girl can see me,and so they'll give me milk to drink and bones to nibble,and never pick me up by my neck or my tail,but adopt me for their pet as they did my two puppy brothers."
The bird laughed.
"That's a long speech for an empty space to make!"he said."But I can understand how you feel,and I might be able to help you."
"But you're only a bird,"said Nothing-at-all."How can you help me?"
"I am a JACKDAW,"said the bird proudly,"and as such it is my task to carry home everything I see.Once I even found a Book of Magic —wait!I'll be right back,"and the bird was gone.
When he returned,the jackdaw said,"It's just as I thought.In the Book of Magic there is a chapter called NOTHINGNESS AND SOMETHINGNESS.
And it says that he who is Nothingy,yet wishes to be Somethingy,must get up at sunrise and whirl around and around and around.While whirling thus,he must say this magic chant:I'm busy getting dizzy.
This,says the book,he must do nine days in a row at sunrise,and he shall see what he shall see.Goodbye,I'm off!"and the bird was gone.
