CHAPTER XXXVII 



FAREWELLS AND WELCOMES 



ALL through the long summer Peter Rabbit 

 watched his feathered friends and learned things 

 in regard to their ways he never had suspected. 

 As he saw them keeping the trees of the Old 

 Orchard free of insect pests working in Farmer 

 Brown's garden, and picking up the countless seeds 

 of weeds everywhere, he began to understand some- 

 thing of the wonderful part these feathered folks 

 have in keeping the Great World beautiful and 

 worth while living in. 



He had many a hearty laugh as he watched the 

 bird babies learn to fly and to find their own food. 

 All summer long they were going to school all about 

 him, learning how to watch out for danger, to use 

 their eyes and ears, and all the things a bird must 

 know who would live to grow up. 



As autumn drew near Peter discovered that his 

 friends were gathering in flocks, roaming here and 

 there. It was one of the first signs that summer 

 was nearly over, and it gave him just a little feeling 

 of sadness. He heard few songs now, for the sing- 

 ing season was over. Also he discovered that many 

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