SOME SUSPICIOUS CHARACTERS 155 
that overlooked both the barns and the orchard. The 
setting up of the house itself had been reserved for this 
special Saturday, so that the children might take part in 
in the ceremony. 
The top of the pole, on which there were fastened cross- 
pieces to make a foundation for the house, was thirty feet 
above the ground. In this pole stout spikes were driven 
at intervals. This not only would prevent cats from 
climbing up to the house, but made a sort of ladder by 
which a man or boy could go up and pull out the nesting 
material of English sparrows if they tried to take possession. 
For, if we are to keep the useful insect-eating birds about 
our houses, we must try our best to keep this Sparrow 
from living amongst us. 
Hard as it seems, he must be classed with animals that 
the kindest heart knows must be destroyed. But no one 
wishes to hurt nestlings, so the best way to do is to pre- 
vent the old birds from building in the haunts of the useful 
song-birds, and then in winter, when the old Sparrows 
gather in flocks about the barnyard, have some grown 
man, with good judgment and aim, shoot them. Children 
should never be let do this for amusement, for it is not well 
to allow a painful necessity to become a sport. 
Tommy Todd was quite late on this Saturday morning, 
so that it was thought that he was not coming, and when 
he did arrive he found the others gathered about the pole, 
— Dave, who had a steady head for climbing, having been 
allowed to go up with Jacob, after the house had been 
raised with a block and falls, to hold hammer and nails 
while it was securely fastened to the braces. 
They were all so busy that it was not until Jacob and 
