THE MOCKING-BIRD. 89 



However, more are lost every year than live to 

 grow up. 



Some people grudge the mockers the berries 

 they eat, but we plant a whole row on purpose for 

 them and other birds. Raspberries are good food 

 for young birds, and a pair of our mockers bring 

 up their children on them every spring. It may 

 not put money in our pockets to plant a row of 

 berries for the birds, but it puts food in the birds' 

 mouths and makes a sociable time. One can but 

 laugh to see the parent birds fly up and bring 

 down the tip of a swaying branch of berries and 

 hold it while the little birds peck off the fruit. 

 While one laughs at the birds, one may get the 

 idea that money in one's pocket is no better than 

 a kind thought in one's mind. 



We are well paid for these little attentions to 

 the mocker's family. We are treated to free con- 

 certs almost every night in the year. By day, he 

 sings, as well, but he spends some of his time 

 in listening to the other birds, so he may surprise 

 them with a rehearsal of their own songs at mid- 

 night. 



The song of the mocking-bird is a mimic of all 

 the sweet songs he hears, but he does not forget 

 to go over the droll sounds which have little 

 music in them. The chickens and turkeys may 



