A HERMIT'S WILD FRIENDS 



When I approached, three little heads turned 

 and six bright eyes looked on me, but not 

 with fear. I suppose Wabbles had told them 

 all about the hermit, and they knew I would 

 not harm them. 



The next morning Wabbles returned, and 

 Mrs. Wabbles was with him. She at once 

 took charge of her babies, and tried to entice 

 them away. But Wabbles, the sly rogue, 

 hopped into the dooryard, and I heard him 

 calling, " Tsp, tsp," and the little fellows 

 heard him, too, and, remembering the food, 

 flew to him. Mrs. Wabbles was obliged to 

 give in. 



Wabbles is not wholly unknown to noto- 

 riety. Many of the summer residents that 

 visited my cabin had made his acquaintance, 

 and the story of the little bird that would 

 desert the fields for a hermit-life in the woods 

 has doubtless often been told in many a dis- 

 tant home. 



Before the birds had departed in migra- 

 tion, Wabbles's little wife had become con- 

 tented and happy in the cabin dooryard. 

 58 



