A HERMIT'S WILD FRIENDS 



table and look the food over. If she discov- 

 ered cup-cake, she helped herself without cere- 

 mony. After dinner, she would preen her 

 feathers standing on a rock near where my 

 writing-table stood. I liked to have her round, 

 for she seemed to be more like a human being 

 than a bird. After the breeding season was 

 over, the old birds shed their feathers, and 

 sorry-looking 'objects they were. Mr. Che- 

 wink appeared to hate the sight of his wife, 

 and he abused her most unmercifully. He 

 pecked her, and would not let her eat until 

 he had satisfied his own appetite. At one 

 time, I threw a bit of cooky to Mrs. Chewink, 

 and it chanced to fall behind a box. While 

 she was eating it, I heard the male calling 

 from the bushes, " Towhee, Chewink," and 

 soon he came flying into the yard, to see, 

 perhaps, if any dainty morsels were about. 

 Mrs. Chewink left her cooky and sauntered 

 from behind the box, as if there was nothing 

 to eat in that spot. She made a great pre- 

 tence of eating dry corn and flour bread, but 

 I don't believe the artful thing swallowed a 

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