THE STBIKE AT SHANE'S. 73 



"Papa," she said, "I think Mr. Tracy is right, and 

 I wish you would heed his words." 



' ' There is something peculiar about the condition of 

 things here on the farm," continued Tracy, " which lam 

 unable to understand ; and while I don't think that God 

 ever singles out one individual on which to inflict pun- 

 ishment, yet it does not seem to me that the situation 

 of things here is a matter of chance. Why, if you 

 have not noticed it I will call j^our attention to the 

 fact that there is not a bird on your farm." 



"Yes, papa; if you will just listen there is not a 

 bird's voice to be heard, and they used to sing so 

 sweetly," said Edith. "It is so lonely without them, 

 and makes me feel like some great misfortune is hang- 

 ing over us." 



"I think my attention had been called to their 

 absence," said Shane ; "but I thought I was lucky to 

 get rid of 'em." 



"Quite the contrary," said Tracy, " it is the most 

 unfortunate thing that has occurred to you. Those 

 birds that you have been trying to kill all your life, 

 and which you have succeeded in driving away, would 

 have saved your crop, which has been destroyed by 

 worms and insects. Why, there have been hundreds 

 of them in my fields all the spring, and see what a fine 

 prospect I have for a good cro]). If you would take 

 time to study these matters you would see that birds 

 are one of the best gifts God has given us. They 

 destroy immense numbers of insects that are injurious 

 to trees and plants, and I think that all the vegetation 



