RESTING TIME OF THE BIRDS 



But my boxes have stood tenantless ever 

 since. 



The worst of it is there is little I 

 could do either in the way of prevention 

 or revenge. I did get out my big old 

 ten-bore duck gun, which I have not had 

 the heart to use on a bird, even a coot, 

 for a dozen years, and began cannonad- 

 ing the miscreants, but this was more 

 disturbing to the neighbors than to the 

 sparrows. 



One of the gentlest nature lovers I 

 ever knew, wise in bird ways and very 

 fond of all birds, used to say that he 

 wished all the English sparrows in the 

 world had but one neck, and that he 

 might have that neck in his hands. I 

 wish he might, too. '* 



So, after weeks of absence, the blue- 

 birds have come back. Their speckle- 

 breasted young, which they would have 

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