LOVELY, INNOCENT YOUNGLINGS. 69 



at home that she could stay away but a short 

 time. 



Of course I concluded from all this that the 

 young shrikes were out, and I longed with all 

 my heart to stay and watch the charming pro- 

 cess of changing from the ungainly creatures 

 they were at that moment to the full-grown and 

 feathered beauties they would be when they ap- 

 peared on the tree ; to see them getting their 

 education, learning to follow their parents about, 

 and finally seeking their own food, still keeping 

 together in a family party, as I had seen them 

 once before, elsewhere, lovely, innocent young- 

 lings whom surely no one could find it in his 

 heart to call " butchers " or "assassins." Then, 

 too, I wanted to see the head of the family, who 

 in the character of spouse had shown himself so 

 devoted, so above reproach, in the new role of 

 father and teacher, in which I had no doubt he 

 would be equally admirable. 



But dearly as I love birds, there are other ties 

 still dearer, and just then there came a call that 

 made me leave the pair with their new joy, pack 

 my trunks, and speed, night and day, half way 

 across the continent, beyond the Great Divide, to 

 a certain cozy valley in the heart of the Rocky 

 Mountains. 



Before I left, however, I committed the little 

 family in the thorn-tree to the care of my friend 



