SCRAPING ACQUAINTANCE. 
—e— 
As I was crossing Boston Common, some 
years ago, my attention was caught by the un- 
usual behavior of a robin, who was standing on 
the lawn, absolutely motionless, and every few 
seconds making a faint hissing noise. So much 
engaged was he that, even when a dog ran near 
him, he only started slightly, and on the instant 
resumed his statue-like attitude. Wondering 
what this could mean, and not knowing how 
else to satisfy my curiosity, I bethought myself 
of aman whose letters about birds I had now 
and then noticed in the daily press. So, look- 
ing up his name inthe City Directory, and find- 
ing that he lived at such a number, Beacon 
Street, I wrote him a note of inquiry. He must 
have been amused as he read it; for I remem- 
ber giving him the title of “* Esquire,” and speak- 
ing of his communications to the newspapers as 
the ground of my application to him. ‘“ Such 
is fame!” he likely enough said to himself. 
“Here is a man with eyes in his head, a man, 
