MR. AND MRS. CHEWINK 



tainly it lessened her labors. She had an- 

 other object in view, which appeared later. 



Two weeks passed, and one morning Mr. 

 Chewink brought the young birds to the door- 

 yard. I was much worried, for I thought that 

 my little pet had been killed. I searched the 

 shrub-land on the hill, and was delighted to 

 hear her call. She was gathering material 

 for a new nest. Then I understood why she 

 had brought her family to the dooryard. 

 She had contemplated putting them under 

 the care of her lazy husband, and she thought 

 that he would not be overworked where food 

 was so plentiful. 



The young birds did not take kindly to 

 Mr. Chewink's care. When they found that 

 he was their sole dependence, they made his 

 life miserable. They followed him with open 

 bills and fluttering wings, clamoring for food. 

 Mr. Chewink acted like a crazy bird. He 

 would fly round and gather food and jab it 

 into an open bill, often, in his reckless haste, 

 knocking a little one off its feet. I pitied 

 the poor birds, but there was a ludicrous side 

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