The Burgess Bird Book for Children 



there was whom Peter loves dearly. It was 

 Tommy Tit the Chickadee. 



Now Tommy Tit had not gone north in the 

 spring. In fact, he had made his home not very 

 far from the Old Orchard. It just happened that 

 Peter hadn't found that home, and had caught only 

 one or two glimpses of Tommy Tit. Now, with 

 household cares ended and his good-sized family 

 properly started in life, Tommy Tit was no longer 

 interested in the snug little home he had built in a 

 hollow birch-stub, and he and Mrs. Chickadee spent 

 their time flitting about hither, thither, and yon, 

 spreading good cheer. Every time Peter visited 

 the Old Orchard he found him there, and as Tommy 

 was always ready for a bit of merry gossip, Peter 

 soon ceased to miss Jenny Wren. 



"Don't you dread the winter, Tommy Tit?" 

 asked Peter one day, as he watched Tommy cling- 

 ing head down to a twig as he picked some tiny 

 insect eggs from the under side. 



"Not a bit," replied Tommy. "I like winter. 

 I like cold weather. It makes a fellow feel good 

 from the tips of his claws to the tip of his bill. 

 I'm thankful I don't have to take that long journey 

 most of the birds have to. I discovered a secret a 

 long time ago, Peter ; shall I tell it to you ?" 



"Please, Tommy," cried Peter. "You know 

 how I love secrets." 



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