More Folks in Red 



Peter hastened to tell her just where she would 

 find these trees and then rather timidly asked why 

 she wanted to find them. 



"Because they hold their berries all winter," 

 replied Mrs. Grosbeak promptly, "and those ber- 

 ries make very good eating. I rather thought 

 there must be some around here. If there are 

 enough of them we certainly shall stay a while. " 



"I hope you will," replied Peter. "I want to 

 get better acquainted with you. You know, if it 

 were not for you folks who come down from the 

 Far North the Green Forest would be rather a 

 lonely place in winter. There are times when I 

 like to be alone, but I like to feel that there is some- 

 one I can call on when I feel lonesome. Did you 

 and Piny come down alone?" 



"No, indeed," replied Mrs. Grosbeak. "There 

 is a flock of our relatives not far away. We came 

 down with the Crossbills. All together we made 

 quite a party." 



Peter and Jumper stayed a while to gossip with 

 the Grosbeaks. Then Peter bethought him that 

 it was high time for him to return to the dear Old 

 Briar-patch, and bidding his new friends good-by, 

 he started off through the Green Forest, lipperty- 

 lipperty-lip. When he reached the edge of the 

 Green Forest he decided to run over to the weedy 

 field to see if the Snowflakes and the Tree Sparrows 

 [329] 



