176 TROUBLE IN THE HONEYSUCKLES. 



The first thing in the morning, I heard again 

 the sorrowful cry, and hastened to the window 

 to see how he appeared, and if possible find 

 out where he lived. He had left the tree and 

 seated himself on the ledge over a false window 

 plainly visible from my chair. The sill, the 

 upper ledge and the edge of the roof overhead 

 were the scene of the whole drama that fol- 

 lowed. From his at-home manner in that spot 

 I concluded that he lived near, for I have no- 

 ticed that sparrows usually have a particular 

 place on which to alight before going into the 

 nest. They perch a moment, look around, flirt 

 the tail and then dash into the house. 



While I watched, a hen-sparrow alighted 

 near the sufferer, scolding harshly, upon which 

 he flew away, and she followed. He alighted 

 upon the pear-tree ; she perched near him and 

 talked to him, not in the scolding tone that 

 had driven him away from the ledge, but in a 

 remonstrating or arguing way. He answered 

 her in a low conversational chirp, but when she 

 drew nearer he again took wing. 



This performance continued all day. The 

 wife did not appear to be angry or trying to 

 drive him away, but neither did she seem to 

 sympathize with his troubles. It looked as if 

 she was urging him to do something, I could 

 not make out what. He kept almost entirely to 



