SCRAPING ACQUAINTANCE. 



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 a man whose letters about birds I had now 

 and then noticed in the daily press. So, look- 

 ing up his name in the 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, 



