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road which passed but a short distance close by. I finally captured the willful 

 from the spot where the nest had been, son, and fearing lest he should again 

 The mother would lead her flock' forth elude me, I carried him in one hand apart 

 where for a few minutes would be enacted from those in the hat. This is how a little 

 ttpn amusing scene as she attempted their quail came to live with me, and he re 

 education in the art of dusting them- ceived the sturdy name of Bob because of 

 selves. They would stand amazed, watch- its aptness to his nature, 

 ing the cloud of fine dust raised by their Bob's brothers and sisters were given 

 teacher, until one by one, they seemed to to a bantam hen, who had made a failure 

 understand her meaning and then squat- with her own brood. She was happy to 

 ting down in a circle, they made feeble receive these new cares, and this time ac- 

 imitations of her vigorous motions. complished her maternal duties to her en- 

 Wayward Bob was one of this family tire satisfaction, rearing all to their full 

 of nine, but as yet he had not been growth. But Bob went with me. I placed 

 named, and, indeed, had he been, it would a box in my room for him, and devoted 

 have taken a close critic to have distin- many pleasant moments to feeding him, 

 guished him from his relatives. watching his growth, and training his 



Bob, together with his brothers and belligerent ways. 



sisters, was seven days old and had My little friend became a great mis- 

 learned quite rapidly to pick small bugs chief as he grew older. He was allowed 

 from the weeds and grasses, when a great full freedom that summer and fall and 

 misfortune befell him and I fear but for his favorite pastime was annoying a brood 

 my timely assistance nine little homeless, of late hatched chickens. Down he would 

 motherless quails would have sadly fly among those chicks, pecking at them 

 longed for the sturdy care of their affec- spitefully, until the mother forced him to 

 donate guardian. I had repaired to the beat a hasty retreat. 



old wagon road, to scatter a few crumbs One noon as the dining-room door 



upon the ground and watch the antics of stood ajar, Bob entered with a whirr, 



my little friends. This time they were alighting upon the table when luncheon 



later than usual in coming to their dust- was being served. The visitor helped 



ing place. No doubt, the mother had himself daintily from the contents of a 



given them a wider knowledge of their platter. I reached my hand toward the 



little world that day. pretty offender, but his fear of my touch 



When they came, I caught sight of caused him to fly quickly aside. In doing 



them some distance from the side of the this he collided with a cup of tea, thus up- 



road, wending their way through a tangle setting it, and causing the contents to fall 



of weeds near a large pile of stones. As upon my mother's gown. This act barred 



I looked a weasel darted from under those him from the dining-room, and he then 



concealing rocks. I cried aloud, and contented himself by pursuing flies and 



rushed forward but my assistance came grasshoppers upon the lawn, 

 too late for the heroic little mother ; and One day a large grasshopper alighted 



thus nine little orphans were thrust upon upon my window. Bob's alert form came 



me for support. The young ones were so a moment later, and he made a dart for 



terrified by the suddenness of their afflic- the coveted morsel. The grasshopper 



tion that they gathered in a helpless knot flew across the room, alighting behind a 



by the scene of the tragedy. 1 gently picture which was standing upon a table, 



lifted eight of the fluffy chicks and de- Bob, nothing daunted by his late failure, 



posited them in my hat. There was yet flew rapidly across the room, and against 



one more to be cared for. He looked up the picture. He had the grasshopper this 



with an expression of trust and fear com- time, and it disappeared rapidly down his 



mingled. I reached foith my hand to take brown throat ; but that was not the end, 



him, but, being a sturdy little fellow he for the picture toppled forward and fell, 



decided to take his chances in the wide breaking the delicate frame work and 



world, so he quickly darted from my hand damaging a much prized portrait. This 



and disappeared among the many weeds act brought Bob disgrace and punish- 



