THE LINNET. 9 



stones, and calls the dogs, and sets his OWii boys 

 after the poor birds, and sometimes does worse 

 things. 



In some parts of California the Russian thistle 

 is making its way into the fields and gardens. 

 The farmers are frightened. They are holding 

 up their hands, and crying, "What shall we do? 

 What shall we do?" The linnets, standing 

 close-by, are making answer, "We will do! We 

 will do!" The farmers hear them, and throw 

 more stones at them. They do not understand 

 the linnets' language. 



You may imagine this is what they are saying: 

 "We must have seeds for food more than half of 

 the whole year. We have always lived on seeds. 

 Before the people came and set out orchards, we 

 ate nothing but seeds and small wild fruits. If 

 you will let us live and have a little of your fruit 

 in summer, we will eat up all the thistle-seeds as 

 fast as they ripen. And we will go on eating all 

 the weed-seeds, as we have always done. We will 

 be partners, you and we, and do each other good 

 turns." 



In fall arid winter you may take long walks into 

 the country and see for yourselves what the lin- 

 nets are doing. You will find them in flocks in 

 weed-patches, swinging on the stems, chatting 



