58 CITIZEN BIRD 



Crows and Blackbirds were Avicked birds that ate up 

 grain and corn, for the miller always puts up scarecroAvs 

 to keep them away." 



But before the Doctor could answer the children 

 caught sight of Mammy Bun coming down from the 

 house carrying a tray. Upon this Avas a pitcher, some 

 glasses, and a plate full of cakes, which, Avhen she came 

 under the tree, they saw were delicious-looking buns, 

 as light and brown as good yeast and careful baking 

 could make them. 



" Ah, mammy, mammy," cried Oliv^e, Dodo, and Nat 

 together, *' how did you know that we should be hungry 

 now, and we are simply famishing ? " 



" Well, honeys, I jess guessed it, I reck'n. I knoAv'd 

 massa was a-learnin' you'uns suffin', and it allers 'peared 

 to me that learnin' was mighty empty work. I know'd 

 Massa Doctor Avas ncA'Cr a one to keep his patients hol- 

 ler, and least his OAvn folks ! " Mammy gave a big 

 comfortable laugh as the Doctor took the tray from 

 her hands and the children thanked her heartily, Avhile 

 little Rap smiled hopefully on seeing that there A\^ere 

 six buns on the plate — that meant one for each and 

 tAvo for the Doctor, he thought. 



" No one can make such buns as mammy," said OliA^e, 

 old as she Avas breaking hers in half, to find the lump 

 of sugar soaked Avith lemon juice that she knew Avas 

 inside. " She used to make them for me when I Avas a 

 little girl ; that is AAdi}" I named her Mammy Bun, and 

 Ave've called her that CA^er since." 



" I thought it Avas a funny name," said Rap. 



" One for each of us, and one for the dish," said 

 Olive, passing the plate around. 



