224 NEWS FEOM THE BIRDS. 



a great many insects tliat would destroy tlie 

 grain and fruit ; and what would you think if 

 you couldn't have any more apples and 23eaches 

 and berries for sauce ? But, then, a slung shot 

 often only wounds a bird, breaking his wing or 

 leg or bruising his body. There was my brother, 

 poor fellow ! One day a bad boy broke his 

 wing with a stone, so that he — my brother, not 

 the bad boy — couldn't fly at all. He couldn't 

 move from place to place except by hopping 

 along on the ground, and so he couldn't get 

 enough food to keep him alive. He grew 

 weaker and weaker day by day. Oh, how he 

 suffered ! It makes me cry to think of it. At 

 last he couldn't move about at all any more, 

 and he Just starved to death by degrees. How 

 would boys like to be served that way, eh? 

 Suppose some strong man should throw a big 

 rock ao^ainst one of their leers and break it ! 

 Well, don't you think a bird suffers pain just 

 as folks do ? So, good-by. Never hurl stones 

 at birds with a slung shot." 



After three such sermons from the feathered 

 preachers, we are quite certain that you will 

 never injure the birds or rob their nests. 



And now, young friends, I must do as my 

 old grandfather was wont to do when he came 



