a morsel was safely lodged or appro- 

 priated, persisting in the clamor until, 

 after patient effort, both little crea- 

 tures were satisfied at last. 



As may be surmised this was no en- 

 viable task, though the twins went 

 promptly to bed at dusk leaving me 

 free for the evening. 



Peepsy was far the brighter bird. 

 He took the lead at first, helping him- 

 self to his meals at times, twinkling the 

 soft brown wings at my approach with 

 most flattering evidences of favor. 



Robert was a different bird; he 

 scratched and bit, flopped about and 

 hissed out his disapprobation. 



The last was not without compen- 

 sations. Wheneverhis beak was opened 

 wide in disapproving hisses the oppor- 

 tunity was seized to fill it with food. 



Sometimes his tactics changed; he 

 would throw back his head and refuse 

 to swallow. In a short time he took 

 on prettier ways, now and then coax- 

 ing a little while receiving his meals 

 with dainty baby eagerness. 



From first to last their tastes di- 

 verged; Peepsy was high-born, Robert 

 was of low degree. These low-born 

 instincts preferring the cage floor he 

 was given a sod to stand upon, the 

 oriole's decided preference for higher 

 stations culminating in the swing, his 

 both by right of preference and forci- 

 ble possession. In ten days Peepsy 

 began to believe himself a full-grown 

 bird. Then began an investigation. of 

 the cage and its appointments, diving 

 into every corner, thrusting himself 

 into the drinking cup as far as its size 

 would allow, playing with the food, 

 and throwing the earthworms given 

 him to the top of the cage before at- 

 tempting to swallow them. He would 

 thrust his beak into Robert's feathers 

 or catch hold of his legs, while the bob- 

 olink with ruffled plumage drew back 

 with becoming indignation. He cer- 

 tainly xvas a homely baby which did 

 not excuse the other twin for putting 

 on airs, regarding him with lofty con- 

 descension, or stepping on his big, 

 sprawling feet when they came too 

 near. This unseemly behavior may 

 have accounted for Robert's despon- 

 dent hours from which he emerged to 

 sing low and tentatively with the tink- 



ling music of falling raindrops. Then 

 they tried to stand upon one foot, bal- 

 ancing with great difficult}' meanwhile, 

 crowding into the swing and tumbling 

 out upon the floor together. 



In utter indifference to his own toilet 

 Peepsy insisted upon preening Robert's 

 plumage, calling his attention to the 

 matter by vigorous pulls at his tail, or 

 jerking some truant feather that beauty 

 or tidiness required to be smoothed 

 into place. 



This unappreciated service was re- 

 sented with many hisses, darting at the 

 persecutor with wide-open beak and 

 dire threatenings of vengeance, after 

 which they cuddled up lovingly to- 

 gether for a nap. 



For several days this self imposed 

 helpfulness was so officious that the 

 twins were separated lest Robert's tem- 

 per, not over-good at the best, be per- 

 manently spoiled. 



On this account Peepsy had the lib- 

 erty of the house and went oftenest 

 abroad. What with a better disposi- 

 tion and more enticing manners there 

 was no resisting, whether it was coax- 

 ing to sit upon my finger or happy as 

 bird could be when admired and ca- 

 ressed. 



He would fly to my shoulder, pull a 

 stray lock of hair lying against my 

 throat, dodge skillfully when the hand 

 was raised in protest, onl}^ to reappear 

 and bite my lips as they moved in cau- 

 tioning words. 



He followed me to my chamber 

 morning by morning, hopping up the 

 stairs one at a time till we reached the 

 top, when he flew to my shoulder and 

 entered the room master of ceremonies. 



As the clothes were replaced upon 

 the bed he darted down upon sheets 

 and blankets on purpose, seemingly, to 

 be "shooed" away. Too much notice 

 was spoiling the child, though his reign, 

 poor baby, was short! 



He was quite independent as to feed- 

 ing himself when Robert first began to 

 pick up cracker crumbs. What was 

 stranger still, when the bobolink was 

 well-versed in such matters, his mem- 

 ory was so unreliable that he forgot 

 how to eat over night and had to be 

 taught all over again for several morn- 

 ings, nor would he swallow till the &^^ 



222 



