THE SHOUSE VEHAT PELE 
smashed remains of several eggs; but not 
once did the bewildered parents notice them. 
Their sole idea was to find the nest where 
for four years they had never failed of find- 
ing it. 
Until the darkness fell they hovered 
about the place with wild cries of distress, 
and the next morning they were back again. 
After that they disappeared, and they have 
never visited the spot since. We miss them 
greatly, and we miss the cheery reveille on 
our tin roof that used to waken us so early 
in the morning, telling us that the birds’ day 
had begun. The little sparrow seemed to 
miss them also, for he sat all day in the 
maple and talked about the tragedy. And 
I understood his feelings, if not his language. 
179 
