Adorning Rural Homes. 189 



ties, but not upon his defects and vices. This we certainly would do unless 

 it be clearly proven that the birds have more vices than virtues. 



" You slay them ! and wherefore ? For the gain 

 Of a scant handful more or less of wheat." 



When we plant our fruit trees, our berry bushes, and our strawberry 

 vines, plant a few extra ones for the birds. Lowell says, " For a' that and 

 twice as muckle as that, I would not exchange him (the robin) for all the 

 cherries that ever came out of Asia Minor." 



Let us educate our children to prot(>ct, study and love the birds, and if 



specimens of eggs are desired, to take a part of them without robbing the 



nests. Teach them that to kill a bird with a sling shot, or in sport, is a sin. 



Let the farmer when guiding the plow, the farmer's son while driving the 



cattle to pasture and meadow; the mother and children while working 



among the flowers, fruits and vegetables, or when abroad in the cool of the 



evening, listen to the voices of the birds, and before the summer is over I 



assure you, that new life-long friends will be yours that will be well worth 



knowing. 



"And there's never a leaf nor a blade too mean 



To be some happy creature's palace ; 



The little bird sits at his door in the sun, 



Atilt like a blossom among the leaves, 



And lets his illumined being o'errun 



With the deluge of summer it receives ; 



His mate feels the eggs beneath her wings, 



And the heart in her dumb breast flutters and sings. 



He sings to the wide world and she to her nest — 



In the nice ear of Nature, which song is the best? 



ADORNING RURAL HOMES. 



BY MRS. D. HUNTLKY, OF WISCONSIX. 



The outward surroundings of the homes of any people are the truest indi- 

 cations of the prosperity of the country and the intelligence of its inhabit- 

 ants. It matters little whether the dwelling is a mansion or a cottage; it is 

 the taste and skill displayed in the adornment of the grounds, the planting 

 of trees, the care of the dowers and the lawn which indicate the culture and 

 refinement of the owner. The costly dwelling may be the perfection of 

 architectural beauty, but the embellishments of art become eflfaced by sim- 

 +!hine and storm, while the more humble dwelling, adorned with nature's 

 treasures, is continually increasing in beauty. The educating influehce of 

 pleasant surroimdings upon the minds of the young can not be overesti- 

 mated. 



