HE TOOK TOO MUCH FOR GRANTED 137 



but when she did, she fairly raged. Catching 

 him as he appeared with a mouthful, she flew 

 at him and compelled him to leave before he 

 had time to deposit his load. She chased him 

 round and round the lawn. But he held on 

 to his precious mouthful, and returned at 

 last to deposit it safely, and work it in with 

 the rest. 



This happened several times before she 

 recognized that more vigilance was demanded, 

 and began flying through very often to see 

 if he were there. Finally she took to sitting 

 on the beam to prevent his coming at all. 



It was evident that the little madam was 

 determined to put an end to his building in 

 that place. Whether she thought he was pre- 

 mature and took too much for granted, or 

 whether she preferred to set up housekeeping 

 in the barn, where the rest of the little flock 

 were building, so that she could have society, 

 she did not make clear to me. Whatever the 

 reason, she was resolved to have her own 

 way, and she did, as in the bird-world is the 

 mother's prerogative. She chased him every 

 time he came, often till he dropped his load, 

 and she finally discouraged him. He began 



