THE BRIDE ARRIVES 241 



post, and looking somewhat anxious. I feared 

 the sweet little drama would end in dis- 

 appointment and tragedy, and I became as 

 anxious as he for a settlement of his matri- 

 monial affairs. 



At last ! at last ! My bonny bridegroom 

 appeared one morning, fluttering and frisk- 

 ing and singing to split his throat, while con- 

 ducting a stranger to the gate-post domicile. 



At first she alighted on the fence not far 

 off, and he proceeded to coax her, uttering 

 a low " chur-r-r-r," with a soft, coaxing note 

 now and then, keeping his eye on her, appar- 

 ently begging her to try the home he had 

 provided. In a moment she flew, and he fol- 

 lowed, singing almost incessantly. Plainly 

 matters were not settled she did not quite 

 know her own mind. 



The coy damsel flitted about, on a tree, on 

 the fence, on the ground, and he never inter- 

 mitted his attentions nor his song. Twice he 

 coaxed her almost to the door, but at the last 

 moment she would not. Evidently entering 

 the offered quarters constitutes acceptance in 

 Bird-land. 



Many times that day these scenes were 



