106 THE SECOND BOOK OF BIRDS 
They fly around as if they were crazy, shriek- 
ing and calling, for they are very fond of their 
little folk. The youngsters are plucky little 
fellows. One will hop along till he comes to a 
tree, and then try to climb the trunk. If he 
happens to hit on a tree with rough bark, he can 
do pretty well. He flutters a little way up, and 
then holds on by the claws till rested. Then he 
flies a little farther, and so he goes till he reaches 
a branch. 
If it is a smooth trunk he tries, his troubles 
are great. Sometimes one will scramble up till 
he comes to a leaf that grows out from the 
trunk, and hang on to that till he is able to go 
on. But often one is unable to keep his hold, 
and falls back into the grass. I have several 
times picked up a hot and frightened birdling 
and put him on a branch. 
A lady told me an interesting little story, 
showing how helpful birds are to one another. A 
Baltimore oriole was picked up from the ground 
with his wing broken so that he could not fly. 
The kind-hearted people fixed him comfortably 
in an attic. They intended to feed him and care 
for him till he got well and could fly. 
They left him there with a window open, so 
that his wild friends could bring food if they 
wished. A little while afterward one of them 
