A HERMIT'S WILD FRIENDS 



Here was a little wild mother that knew 

 better than to feed to her babies food that 

 she dearly loved herself. How did she know 

 that such food would hurt them? Well 

 we know that the wild things manage 

 their domestic affairs in a way best suited 

 to their needs and natures. But it is only 

 here and there that a human being can gain 

 the confidence of the wild things so far as 

 to share the secrets o their lives. 



Mrs. Chewink, like many human mothers, 

 was overworked during the warm weather. 

 Often she would seek the shade for a few 

 seconds' rest. Her open bill and drooping 

 wings gave evidence of how much she was 

 suffering from the heat. All this time Mr. 

 Chewink haunted the cool, shady spots, and 

 left his clamorous family to the care of his 

 overworked wife. The little ones increased in 

 size very fast, and soon were as large as the 

 old ones. One morning Mrs. Chewink brought 

 the brood into the dooryard. I think she 

 wanted to be near the food supply. Cer- 



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