124 A WIDOW AND TWINS. 
I had seen many birds in the tree, first and 
last, but none that created anything like 
such a stir. The mother was literally in a 
frenzy. She went the round of her perches, 
but could stay nowhere. Once she dashed 
out of the tree for an instant, and drove a 
sparrow away from the tomato patch. Or- 
dinarily his presence there would not have 
annoyed her in the least, but in her present 
state of mind she was ready to pounce upon 
anybody. All of which shows once more how 
“human-like” birdsare. The bewilderment 
of the oriole was comical. ‘ What on earth 
ean this crazy thing be shooting about my 
ears in this style for?”’ I imagined him say- 
ing to himself. In fact, as he glanced my 
way, now and then, with his innocent baby 
face, I could almost believe that he was ap- 
pealing to me with some such inquiry. 
The next morning (“‘at 7.32,” as my diary 
is careful to note) one of the twins took his 
flight. I was standing on the wall, with my 
glass leveled upon the nest, when I saw him 
exercising his wings. The action was little 
more pronounced than had been noticed at 
intervals during the last three or four days, 
except that he was more decidedly on his 
