quiet way Mrs. Bluebird was just as Afterwards she gave him a good pecking, 



happy. She really thought her children which is a bird whipping. This was not 



the prettiest birdies that had ever lived, much of a lesson though, for a few morn- 



I daresay we would have thought them ings later Mr. and Mrs. Bluebird re- 



the hungriest, for the first thing they did turned from market to find Boy Blue 



was to open their big mouths and holler quite out of the nest, and fighting, with 



for something to eat. Bobby Sparrow. Mr. English Sparrow 



Boy Blue, who came out of his egg was looking on, and the sight of him 



first, and was the biggest, hollered the made Mr. Bluebird so angry that there 



loudest. He really was a very greedy might have been another fight, had not 



fellow, and vain too. Long before he their common enemy, Mr. Kingbird, 



could stand on .his rickety little legs, he come flying along, and sent them all to 



used to try to preen his feathers as he the safety of their nests, 



had seen his father and mother do. This "Never let this happen again," said 



was really very funny, for he had no Boy Blue's father, when they were home 



feathers to preen, only quills with the once more. "English Sparrows have bad 



ends of feathers sticking out. He next reputations, and it is best not to be seen 



tried to fly before he had had a lesson, in their company. I don't wish you to be 



and one day he managed to climb to the a coward, but a self-respecting bluebird 



edge of the nest, but he could only flap fights only for his home and his family, 



his wings and hang on for dear life. Always remember that." And Boy Blue 



He would have fallen out entirely if replied very meekly that he "would try." 



his mother had not come home just then, T _. TA, 



j u j t.' -it -.LI i UMI LOUISE JAMISON. 

 and pushed him in the nest with her bill. 



BIRD LEGENDS IN RHYME 



THE BLUEBIRD 



Fair tune warbler of the early spring, 

 Tell us the secret of your mystic charm ! 

 How do you bind our ever willing hearts, 

 Till fain to banish all that does thee harm? 



Is it your happy, ever joyous song, 



That to our hearts brings such a wealth of cheer? 



Is it that you're the harbinger of spring 



And tell us. that the summer time is near ? 



Or is it that you wear a coat of blue 

 So like our heaven above where best hopes lie? 

 I think 'tis this, we love you best of all 

 Because you seem a bit of God's blue sky. 



Sometimes we like this story to repeat, 

 That angels fashioned you in heaven above 

 And sent you down to warm earth's aching heart 

 With messages of cheerfulness and love. 



While dropping through the bright blue skies to us, 

 Your fluttering wings took on their dainty hue; 

 When to your tender breast the brown earth gave 

 Her touch, for very love of you. 



EDITH DRURY LENINGTON. 



221 



