62 A THORN-TREE NEST. 



madam refused to use the gayer pieces, but be- 

 ing beguiled by the device of sewing a bright 

 one between two of duller hue, her scruples were 

 overcome ; and after that her fall into total de- 

 pendence was easy and complete. She accepted 

 the most brilliant pieces that were offered, and 

 built her nest therewith. 



But alas, from the moment of yielding to her 

 vanity or her love for ease, troubles began in the 

 flycatcher family. The robin nesting in an ad- 

 joining tree reproved her by tugging at the gay 

 strings that hung out ; the English sparrow 

 across the way set herself up as a conservator of 

 morals, and, to teach Madam Chebek modesty 

 becoming her size, tried to pull the whole to 

 pieces. Then when Chebek, who is no coward, 

 had succeeded in putting an end to neighborly 

 interference, the nest began to show a deplorable 

 disinclination to " stay put." Whether the ma- 

 terial could not be properly fastened, or whether 

 the bird was so demoralized as to shirk ordinary 

 precautions, the fact is, that every breeze shook 

 the little structure, and four completed nests of 

 this unnatural sort fell, one after another, in 

 ruins to the ground. Then motherly instinct 

 came to the rescue : she refused further aid, re- 

 moved herself to a distance, built a new nest, 

 after the accredited flycatcher fashion, and it is 

 supposed brought out her brood safely, if rather 



