incubation began. And in spite of the 

 heat everything went on happily in this 

 unique domicile. 



We soon became the most sociable 

 friends. Their quaint and charming 

 ways made them very amusing pets. 

 They became so tame that they would 

 approach me fearlessly, even alighting 

 on my head, and would let me examine 

 their nest without being frightened. 



The wren is a very lively and active 

 bird, and sings incessantly throughout 

 the breeding-season, and these were 

 not an exception, but were forever 

 darting in and out, their actions ac 

 companied by a sweet warble. Mr. 

 Wren would positively quiver all over 

 with delight, while regaling Mrs. Wren 

 and. me with his exuberant melody. 

 They were the cheeriest little compan 

 ions imaginable. Every morning as I 

 entered the kitchen I was greeted 

 heartily by my small neighbors, who 

 bustled about in the preparation of the 

 morning meal as busily as I. Mean 

 while Mr. Wren merrily sang his 

 innocent matin song, and spontane 

 ously I would find myself singing too, 

 as I went about my work. 



One day there was great excitement 

 in the shoe and, when I looked in, five 

 featherless mites with huge mouths 

 were to be seen. Mrs. Wren was now 

 a veritable "old woman who lived in a 

 shoe." But she did not treat her chil 

 dren as did the old woman of nursery 

 fame, though she was kept very busy 

 in supplying their wants, even with the 

 assistance of Mr. Wren. 



These birds subsist on small insects 

 and consume a considerable quantity. 

 With much satisfaction I watched them 

 slay a host of ants that were invading 

 the kitchen; running up and down the 

 wall with much agility, they picked 

 the ants off. 



Real warm weather had set in by the 

 time the nestlings were ready to try 

 their wings, and I thought, of course, 

 my friends would desert me for a 

 cooler resort out of doors, in which to 

 pass the heated term. But O, no, they 

 were too loyal for that, so to make 

 their house more commodious, another 

 room was added by building a nest in 

 the other shoe. And the family raised 

 in the second shoe was not a whit less 

 interesting than the first. 



THE CHICKADEE. 



SIDNEY DAYRE. 



"Were it not for me," 



Said a chickadee, 



"Not a single flower on earth would be; 

 For under the ground they soundly 



sleep 

 And never venture an upward peep, 



Till they hear from me, 



Chickadee-dee! 



"I tell Jack Frost when 'tis time to go 

 And carry away the ice and snow; 

 And then I hint to the jolly old sun, 

 'A little spring work, sir, should be 

 done. 



And he smiles around 



On the frozen ground, 

 And I keep up my cheery, cheery 



sound, 

 Till echo declares in glee, in glee, 



Tis he! 'tis he! 



The chickadee-dee! 



"And then I waken the birds of spring 

 'Ho, ho! 'tis time to be on the wing.' 

 They trill and twitter and soar aloft, 

 And I send the winds to whisper soft, 

 Down by the little flower-beds, 

 Saying, 'Come show your pretty heads! 

 The spring is coming, you see, you see! 



For so sings he, 



The chickadee-dee!" 



The sun he smiled; and the early flow 

 ers 

 Bloomed to 'brighten the blithesome 



hours, 

 And song-birds gathered in bush and 



tree; 



But the wind he laughed right merrily, 

 As the saucy mite of a snowbird he 

 Chirped away, "Do you see, see, see? 

 I did it all! 

 Chickadee-dee!" 



