WOOD AND WASTE 123 



English Robin, never would he be guilty of 

 such discourtesy as to sit, as does the 

 Redbreast, like a stone, until he darts on 

 his worm, showing thereby that the worm 

 and not your companionship is his real 

 object. My little brown friend would never 

 do that, each of us gives a happiest inter- 

 pretation to the other's presence. Though 

 incidentally the turned-over soil may be 

 used later for other purposes, I am there 

 now, the Pipit persuades himself, to provide 

 him those soft-shelled grubs, as white and 

 pathetically helpless as babies. Seeing me 

 lonely at my work, I know he wishes me 

 to believe that he has arrived with his 

 cheerful chirp and ceaseless runs and 

 flutterings, to charm the solitude, make the 

 sun brighter, and the sky more blue. 

 Mutual courtesy is always observed, on my 

 part no too quick motion or sudden throwing 

 down of tools, on his, an exit lingering and 

 reluctant, for his departure, too, is like 

 him, little runs and pauses that carry him 

 further and further, as if breaking the 

 sorrow to me, and when at last he is no 

 longer there I realise the old French proverb 



