A SILVER-TONGUED FAMILY 95 



little Avarmei- invitation to join liim in tlieir old, old 

 play of tnrning the sluggish sleeping brown earth into 

 a wonderful green garden again. 



" As a Citizen the Bluebird is in every way a model. 

 He works with the Ground Gleaners in searching the 

 grass and low bushes for grasshoppers and crickets ; 

 he searches the trees for caterpillars in company with 

 the Tree Trappers ; and in eating blueberries, cranber- 

 ries, wild grapes, and other fruits he works with the 

 Seed Sowers also. 



" So who would not welcome this bird, who pays his 

 rent and taxes in so cheerful a manner, and thanks you 

 with a song into the bargain ? A very few straws are 

 all that he asks for his housekeeping, and every time 

 he promises a meal for his household, scores of creep- 

 ing, crawling, hopping garden enemies are gobbled up. 

 Then he, modest little fellow that he is, comes to the 

 roof of the shed and murmurs his thanks for your hos- 

 pitality, as if you and not he had done the favor ; he 

 continues to wliisper and warble about it all the way 

 down the meadow until, having caught another grass- 

 hopper, his mouth is too full for singing." 



As the Doctor w^as speaking the shower cloud passed 

 over, and the sun burst out full upon the Bluebirds 

 that were building by the woodshed. 



'' Oh, they aj^e red, Avhite, and blue ! " cried Dodo in 

 great glee, " though the red is a little dirty, — not so 

 fresh and bright as the color in our new flag." 



" It is more the red of the ragged old flag they keep 

 down in the Town Hall — the one that has seen ser- 

 vice," said Rap thoughtfully. 



