NESTLINGS OF FOREST AND MARSH 
ing courage to venture out. ‘Twenty feet is 
a long distance for baby wings. There are 
wonderful and terrible things in the green 
forest to baby eyes. By and by one took 
heart of faith, or a gentle push from behind 
forced him out, and away he fluttered. 
“ Bravo!” called the little blue father, flying 
around and under him. He almost reached 
the branch, tried for, but could not quite 
grasp it. Down, down he tumbled, half 
flying, half falling into the soft ferns, and 
sat breathless, frightened, but safe. His 
bravery was at once rewarded with a fine tid- 
bit brought by his fond mamma. In the 
mean time his brothers and sisters left in the 
nest had grown impatient, and now two little 
heads appeared one just behind the other in 
the small round doorway. There was a 
peck, some naughty words, and out popped 
two more almost at the same instant. Leav- 
ing home so abruptly, they had no oppor- 
tunity to plan their travels, and tumbling, 
fluttering, down they came together near an 
old tomato-can. Breathless, but triumphant 
38 
