398 GRAY LADY AND THE BIRDS 
came to the door to watch the children at their planting, 
saying to the boys, “This is Arbour Day, the day of plant- 
ing trees, but pray remember that it is Bird Day also. 
You may dig a deep hole for your tree and water it well; 
but if you wish it to grow and flourish, beg the birds to 
help you. The old tree died because insects gnawed it, 
for you were rough and cruel, driving all the birds away 
from hereabouts and robbing their nests.”’ 
“Please, ma’am,”’ said a little girl, “our orchard was full 
of spinning caterpillars last season and we had no apples. 
Then father read in a book the government sent him 
that Cuckoos would eat the caterpillars all up, so he let 
the Cuckoos stay, and this year the trees are nice and 
clean and all set full of buds!” 
* * * * * * * 
The Song Sparrow did not wait to hear any more, but 
flew back to his companions with the news. 
“T shall put my nest under the lilac hedge to show the 
children that I trust them,” said he, after the birds had 
recovered from their surprise. 
“T will lodge in the bushes near the old apple tree,’’ said 
the Cuckoo; ‘it needs me sadly.” 
“YT will build over the schoolhouse door,’ said the 
Phoebe; “there is a peafield near by that will need me 
to keep the weevils away.” 
“T think I will take the nice little nook under the 
gable,” said Jennie Wren, “though I need not build for 
two weeks yet, and I have not even chosen my mate.” 
“T shall go to the sill of that upper window where the 
blind is half closed,” said the Robin. “They have planted 
