HOME IN THE OLD STONE BRIDGE 151 



this, and it was not until over three 

 weeks later that I saw the nest again. 



There was a great commotion under 

 the old stone bridge. Loud, shrill cries 

 greeted me as I neared it ; and no won- 

 der, for there, sitting on the moss-covered 

 rocks leading to the larger stream, were 

 some quaint-looking birds. The baby 

 Dippers had for the first time left their 

 mossy home, and were looking out upon 

 the great world of water outside. On a 

 rock in the river the parents sat, bobbing 

 up and down, and spreading their wings 

 and calling loudly. Backwards and for- 

 wards they went to their young, urging 

 them to follow them. One gave a hop 

 and slipped down into the water, but, 

 not a bit scared at this mishap, he fol- 

 lowed them, and found to his astonish- 

 ment that his wings would carry him 

 wherever he wished to go. The other 

 three followed, one giving the quaintest 

 little hops from stone to stone, as though 



