242 EARLY MORNING STUDIES 



enacted, and I became as absorbed in his 

 courtship as I ever do in the varying for- 

 tunes of similar character in human life, or 

 in a novel. Nor is the difference so great as 

 one might imagine birds are wonderfully 

 human in their ways. 



It was noon of the next day before the 

 bride was won and concluded to enter the 

 apartment offered her. Then my little hero 

 went wild with joy, singing like mad, flutter- 

 ing his wings, flying up in the air. He seemed 

 hardly able to contain himself. Then, too, 

 he instantly began vigorously dressing his 

 plumage, for birds are careful or indifferent 

 , to their personal appearance according to 

 their emotions, exactly as are their human 

 brothers. 



After this came a difference in the wren's 

 behavior. He was now the sedate head of a 

 family. He still sang, but not so loud or so 

 urgently as before, his audience was near at 

 hand ; wooing was ended and home-life had 

 begun. 



And now I made the acquaintance of the 

 bride, who soon began to appear on the gate- 

 post in the role of mistress. Though their 



