XXIII 
FEBRUARY, “THE LONG-SHORT MONTH” 
Bluebird, Song Sparrow, Robin 
“T wonpER why February is so long, when it is the 
very shortest month in the year?” said Goldilocks one 
Saturday, as she and Miss Wilde were walking from 
Swallow Chimney, up through Birdland, to the big house 
for the bird class. 
“T have often thought the same thing myself,” answered 
Rose Wilde, “and I think it must be because, knowing 
that it is a short month, we think spring is hurrying to us 
because we are trying to hurry toward it. Spring, how- 
ever, never hurries to return to New England, even when 
nature faces her this way she seems to take pleasure in 
walking backward !” 
Miss Wilde and Goldilocks had become fast friends since 
the little teacher had come to live on the hill. With the 
interest Gray Lady had shown in the children and school, 
the dreary, lonely days had passed away, and she no 
longer looked pale and nervous, but was bright-eyed, with 
a lovely soft colour in her cheeks, so that, as Goldilocks 
told her one day, her name could be written in two ways, 
Rose Wilde, and Wild Rose, which, of course, made her 
blush with pleasure, and look all the more like that 
radiant June flower. 
Goldilocks would have liked to go to school at Foxes 
310 
