THE REPOSE OF NATURE. 301 



boldness, and the irresistible compassion excited by his 

 pitiful aspect as he sits outside the windows, with 

 ruffled feathers, sunken head, and bright eye gleaming 

 from the downy plumes. The cunning little fellow 

 seems to feel that no one sitting in a warm room, at an 

 abundantly spread table, can resist opening the window 

 and giving a hearty welcome to the ' ittle baird with 

 boothom wed,' as one of my child-friends is accustomed 

 to call him. So the window is raised, and in comes 

 the feathered mendicant, at first shy and fearful, keeping 

 at a respectful distance, and picking up the crumbs 

 that are thrown to him, with many a sidelong hop and 

 great flirting of the wings. 



Compassionate reader, if your premises should be 

 invaded by a poor, cold, half-starved robin, do not feed 

 him with bread-crumbs, but give him some little bits 

 of fat meat cut in long and thin strips like small 

 worms. Of course he will eat the crumbs provided he 

 can get nothing better, but he requires the meat to 

 supply his glowing frame with the capability of resist- 

 ing the chilling frost. He will not forget your kind- 

 ness, but day by day will make his appearance at your 

 window, hop about your table, eat out of your hand, 

 and repay you with one of his own bright songs, which 

 to my ears have the most charming mixture of mirth 

 and melody. 



There is, however, one drawback in his character. 



He is dreadfully jealous, and will not permit another 



bird to avail itself of the hospitality to which he has 



p2 



