tions of building there a new nest. We 

 at once procured another box and put it 

 up, in underneath the veranda ceiling, 

 leaving the top of the box wholly open. 

 By again closing the mail-box their at 

 tention was diverted from it, and the new 

 box, in plain view from mail-box, was 

 soon espied. The sparrows also discov 

 ered it at about the same time and there 

 was another sharp conflict for possession. 

 We had not allowed the sparrows to 

 build anywhere about our premises, al 

 though they had made many attempts, 

 and they were now getting desperate. 

 After several fierce tussles between them 

 the Bluebirds, much to our joy, were 

 again victors, and there the female 

 builded her neat and cozy nest, again laid 

 five eggs, and hatched her brood of five, 

 right over our heads. 



It was a pleasing yet quite remarkable 

 matter that the older brood should show 

 such affection toward the younger. 

 They would perch upon the edge of the 

 box and look down upon the little fellows 

 in the nest with as much apparent in 

 terest and tenderness as older children 

 look upon the little baby brother or sister 

 in the cradle. The male parent, however, 

 was loth to allow the youngsters to be 

 too familiar, and would drive them from 

 the box, as if he feared they might unin 

 tentionally harm the little things. This 

 first brood evidently understood that the 

 later members of the family had yet to 

 pass through the ordeal of learning to 

 fly, and only the day previous to that on 

 which they took their flight we observed 

 some of the older ones fluttering above 



the nest and uttering a tender little chirp, 

 as much as to say, "Don't be afraid, 

 this is the way to do it, only see how 

 easy." 



The second brood left the nest about 

 the middle of July. Being yet early in 

 the season we rather expected the pair to 

 nest again, but having now a family of 

 nine they probably considered their work 

 well done, and gave the rest of the sum 

 mer and the fore part of autumn to 

 teaching their young the economics of 

 bird life. They remained in the neigh 

 borhood, cheering us with their presence 

 and pretty ways, until taking their de 

 parture for the southland. They were 

 all fond of the bath, but especially did the 

 young birds find great delight in it. And 

 our delight in watching them was not 

 less. During the warmer weather they 

 came quite regularly, morning and eve 

 ning, for a dip in the water, and often 

 would get into the pan three or four to 

 gether. And how they made the water 

 fly! So well did they love it that at 

 times, after preening their feathers for a 

 few moments, they were back again into 

 the water for a second dip, then off to 

 forage or to bed. 



But the summer waned, and autumn 

 was fast verging upon winter, with its 

 cold northerly winds, when, loth as we 

 were to have them leave us, they fol 

 lowed the lead of their native instinct and 

 flew away in search of a warmer clime. 

 We loved them and miss them, but long 

 for renewed acquaintanceship another 

 season. 



FRANK M. BONER. 



GOD'S GREEN VELVET 



One morning in the month of May, 

 I took my journey o'er the hills, 

 Where Nature in her bridal lay. 



I saw the forest's smoky line 

 Beyond the river's sparkling tide, 

 Decked in sweet green of living pine. 



Nearer, the oak and elm stood 

 In all the forest's lusty strength. 

 As kingly monarchs of the wood. . 



