Chippy, Sweetvoice, and Dotty 



lived in the Old Orchard a long time, so you ought 

 to be able to tell me something I want to know. 

 Why is it that none of the Sparrow family except- 

 ing that noisy nuisance, Bully, build in the trees 

 of the Old Orchard? Is it because Bully has 

 driven all the rest out?" 



Johnny Chuck shook his head. "Peter," said 

 he, "whatever is the matter with your ears? 

 And whatever is the matter with your eyes ?" 



" Nothing," replied Peter rather shortly. "They 

 are as good as yours any day, Johnny Chuck." 



Johnny grinned. "Listen!" said Johnny. 

 Peter listened. From a tree just a little way off 

 came a clear "Chip, chip, chip, chip." Peter 

 didn't need to be told to look. He knew without 

 looking who was over there. He knew that voice 

 for that of one of his oldest and best friends in 

 the Old Orchard, a little fellow with a red-brown 

 cap, brown back with feathers streaked with 

 black, brownish wings and tail, a gray waistcoat 

 and black bill, and a little white line over each 

 eye, altogether as trim a little gentleman as 

 Peter was acquainted with. It was Chippy, as 

 everybody calls the Chipping Sparrow, the 

 smallest of the family. 



Peter looked a little foolish. "I forgot all 

 about Chippy," said he. "Now I think of it, 

 I have found Chippy here in the Old Orchard 

 [23] 



