146 T(AMBLE$ OF A VOfMINIS 



common prudence, we shall do well to stretch out help- 

 ing hands, to keep alive our bold retainers through the 

 days of famine. Now, in the time of their extremity, 

 let us remember their good deeds. It is no mere ques- 

 tion of sentiment. 



"They are the winged wardens of your farms 

 Who from the cornfields drive the insidious foe, 



And from your harvests keep a hundred harms." 



If the sparrow does wantonly at least, so far as we 

 can see cut down a few crocuses in the spring-time ; if 

 he does in summer string a few currants from your 

 favourite bushes, consider how well, how long, how un- 

 tiringly he guarded them from grub and wireworm. 

 Did not the starlings keep watch and ward over the 

 land, it would be overrun with very plagues of Egypt. 

 Were it not for the industrious tits that forage among 

 your fruit trees, the grubs would certainly have all the 

 best of the harvesting. All the year they have done us 

 yeoman's service. What if they have at times taken 

 toll of seed or fruit ? Let us not grudge such retainers 



" i a scant handful more or less of wheat, 



Or rye, or barley, or some other grain, 

 Scratched up at random by industrious feet, 

 Searching for worm or weevil after rain." 



But looking at the question in quite another way 

 no one who has not tried it can realise how much 

 pleasure is to be derived from watching the birds that 

 flock to the scattered bounty. Laying aside for the 

 time being much of that shyness which we are apt to 



