82 THE WITCHING WREN. 



dragging behind me. I loosened the branch 

 from its hold, and went on. But though I 

 laughed at the absurdity, I found my nerves a 

 little shaken. Just as I reached the wren 

 corner a shriek arose, as if I had stepped on a 

 whole family of birdlings. Again I started, 

 when a saucy squirrel ran out on the branch of 

 a tree, scolding me in good round terms. 



It is impossible to discourage or tire out a 

 squirrel ; his business is never pressing, and if 

 it were he considers it an important part of his 

 duties to see that no one interferes with the nests 

 he depends on for fresh eggs. He is sure to 

 keep up a chatter which puts all the birds of 

 the neighborhood on their guard ; and as I was 

 particularly desirous not to reveal to him the 

 position of the wrens' nest, I stayed only long 

 enough to assure myself that the little birds had 

 not flown, and the parents were attending strictly 

 to domestic affairs. 



The next day I succeeded in reaching the 

 wren quarter without arousing the ire of the 

 squirrels, and I placed my seat very near the 

 nest to see if the bird had learned not to fear 

 me. Fixing my eyes on the place she must 

 enter, I waited, motionless. Some time passed, 

 and though I heard many bird notes about me, 

 and the wren song itself afar off, there was no 

 flit of wing nor faintest wren note near me. But 



