168 RETIREMENT UNDER THE BED. 



stead was a light iron one, high from the floor, 

 so that all this was plainly seen. No one being 

 in sight, the brown thrush came out and turned 

 to his regular business of stirring up the house- 

 hold while the little thrush was not to be seen, 

 and perfect silence seemed to indicate that he 

 was not there at all. After some search, aided 

 by an indiscreet movement on his part, he was 

 found perched on the framework, between the 

 mattress and the wall. This narrow retreat, 

 apparently discovered by accident, soon became 

 a favorite retiring place when he did not care 

 for society. 



This interesting bird, with all his dignity, 

 had a playful disposition. Nothing pleased him 

 better than rattling and tearing to bits a news- 

 paper or the paper strips* over a row of books, 

 although he had to stand on the latter while he 

 worked at it ; and notwithstanding it not only 

 rustled, but disturbed his footing as well, he 

 was never discouraged. A more violent jerk 

 than usual sometimes startled him so that he 

 bounded six or eight inches into the air in his 

 surprise, but he instantly returned to the play 

 and never rested till he had picked holes, torn 

 pieces out, and reduced it to a complete wreck. 



All through the long winter this charming 

 thrush, with his two neighbors, delighted the 

 house with his peculiar and matchless music, 



