with geraniums. A ruby-throat came often to 

 this window. One day the mistress of the flowers 

 caught the wee chap in her hands. He knew at 

 once that she meant no harm and quietly sub- 

 mitted. A few days later he returned and was 

 captured again. He liked the honey, and evi- 

 dently the fondling, too, for he came very regu- 

 larly after that for the nectar and the lady's 

 soft hands. 



The nest behind my garden is in the top of a 

 tall, slender maple, with oaks and chestnuts sur- 

 rounding and overshadowing it. Finding a nest 

 like this is inspiration for the rest of life. The 

 only feat comparable to it is the discovery of a 

 bee-tree. Finding wild bees, I think, would be 

 good training for one intending to hunt humming- 

 birds' nests in the woods. But no one ever had 

 such an intention. No one ever deliberately 

 started into the woods a-saying, "Go to, now ; I '11 

 find a humming-bird's nest in here ! " 



Humming-birds' nests are the gifts of the gods 

 rewards for patience and for gratitude because 

 of commoner grants. My nests have invariably 

 come this way, or, if you choose, by accident. 

 The nearest I ever came to earning one was in 

 [105] 



