WELCOME THE COMING GUEST 



the midst of the assemblage, and gazes with 

 friendly interest at the proceedings of its quaint 

 members; but her presence causes not even an 

 anxious flutter among them. Sometimes her little 

 satin coat of dazzling white and rich tan brushes 

 against the rather dingy garment of a cottontail 

 rabbit, and frequently Mr. Rufus and Madame 

 Jolie-Queue inspect her closely, or dance around 

 her as if inviting her to join in their frolics. But 

 even when the graceful little sprite frisks and 

 gambols in the very neighborhood of the banquet 

 her merriment causes no uneasiness among her 

 proteges, for its friendly nature is thoroughly un- 

 derstood. 



In order not to harm my feathered visitors by 

 interfering with their regular quest for food, I 

 serve the meals at scheduled hours only. But at 

 periods of untimely frosts, I spread an all-day 

 feast. None of my pensioners approve of the lat- 

 ter plan more highly than do the robins. Mrs. 

 Mabel Osgood Wright it was who discovered 

 that powdered or moistened dog-biscuit and bread 

 are a very satisfactory temporary substitute for 

 worms stowed away in ice-locked larders. With 

 genial days the dog-biscuit disappears from my 

 bill of fare, but moistened bread is the summer 



