STORIES ABOUT BIRDS. 33 



in our hstjs and rivers. Mr. Piatt liappenecl to 

 be standing in liis yard, when a flock passed 

 directly over his barn. At that instant he ob- 

 served three geese separate themselves from 

 the rest, and, after wheeling ronnd several 

 times, they alighted in the middle of the yard. 

 Imagine his surprise and pleasure, when, by 

 certain well-remembered signs, he recognized 

 in one of the three his long-lost fugitive. It 

 was she indeed ! She had traveled many hun- 

 dred miles to the lakes, had there hatched and 

 reared her otfsi^ring, and had now returned 

 with her little famil}^, to share with them the 

 sweets of civilized life. 



A farmer states that he once had a gander 

 who was worsted in a battle with one of his 

 neighbors, and yery badly treated. The farm- 

 er, however, took the part of the one who was 

 conquered, and nursed him until his wounds 

 were healed. The gander Avas so grateful for 

 this sympathy and kindness, that he became 

 very much attached to his master — so much 

 attached, indeed, that he was at times quite 

 troublesome. One day, Avhen the farmer was 

 going to visit a forest more than a mile from 

 the house, the gander insisted on going with 

 him. In spite of all his master could do, he 

 followed him all the way, and back again. Part 



