138 IN THE MIDDLE COUNTRY. 



beauty as I knew it was. But I had not long 

 to wait, for speedily it became too full, and ran 

 over into the outside world. On the eighth day 

 one ambitious youngster stepped upon the 

 branch beside the nest and shook himself out, 

 and on the ninth came the plunge into the wide, 

 wide world. While I was at breakfast he made 

 his first effort, and on my return I saw him on 

 a branch about a foot below the nest, the last 

 step on papa's winding stair. Here he beat his 

 wings and plumed himself vigorously, rejoicing, 

 no doubt, in his freedom and in plenty of room. 

 Again and again he nearly lost his balance, in 

 his violent attempts to dress his beautiful 

 plumage, and remove the last remnant of nest 

 mussiness. But he did not fall, and at last he 

 began to look about him. One cannot but won- 

 der what he thought when he 



" First opened wondering eyes and found 

 A world of green leaves all around," 



looking down upon us from his high perch, 

 complete to the little black necklace, and lack- 

 ing only length of tail of being as big as his 

 parents. 



After half an hour of restless putting to 

 rights, the little jay sat down patiently to wait 

 for whatever might come to him. The wind got 

 up and shook him well, but he rocked safely on 

 his airy seat. Then some one approached. He 



