MY WOODLAND INTIMATES 



one frosty day when a sturdy little maiden came 

 into my den laden with pine and spruce branches 

 " for the birds." How to utilize the donation 

 was a puzzle at first; but even as I pondered the 

 matter fancy pictured them to me forming 

 themselves into the shelter they afterward be- 

 came. I have since heard of a number of bird 

 restaurants conducted on various plans, but it so 

 happened that none of them were known to me 

 when I embarked on what I supposed to be a 

 unique and original undertaking. 



Making choice of a window that looks south- 

 ward toward the grove into the very heart of the 

 wood-thrush corner one whose sill had formerly 

 been one of my ordinary bird and squirrel res- 

 taurants I wedged the branches firmly between 

 the fastened-back shutters and the house in such 

 a w r ay that the tips met in front of the window; 

 while long, curving boughs fell outward over the 

 eaves, and two strong perches extended entirely 

 across from one side of the casement to the other. 

 Thus, you see, a perfect bower was formed ; a de- 

 lightful shelter and perching-place at the very 

 table d'hote itself. Of course the boughs have 

 since been many times replaced, yet to-day the 

 tavern stands practically as it stood at the time 

 fiool 



