II. 



A CHRONICLE OF THREE LITTLE KINGS. 



THERE was 



" Riot of roses and babel of birds, 

 All the ^rld in a whirl of delight," 



when the three baby kingbirds opened their 

 eyes to the June sunlight. Three weeks I had 

 watched, if I had not assisted at, the rocking of 

 their cradle, followed day by day the patient 

 brooding, and carefully noted the manners and 

 customs of the owners thereof. At last my long 

 vigil was rewarded. It was near the end of a 

 lovely June day, when June days were nearly 

 over, that there appeared a gentle excitement in 

 the kingbird family. The faithful sitter arose, 

 with a peculiar cry that brought her mate at 

 once to her side, and both looked eagerly together 

 into the nest that held their hopes. Once or 

 twice the little dame leaned over and made some 

 arrangements within, and then suddenly she 

 slipped back into her place, and her spouse flew 

 away. But something had happened, it was 

 plain to see; for from that moment she did not 



