60 HOME LIFE OF THE EEDSTAET. 



many leaves, it was a marvel I had been able to 

 see it at all. The redstarts might be lively and 

 restless, but they were good workers. So firmly 

 was that nest fastened to its branch, resting on 

 one twig and embraced by two others, like arms, 

 that to remove it would destroy it. Strips of 

 something like grapevine bark, with a few grass- 

 blades and a material that looked like hornets' 

 or other insects' nest, formed the outside, while 

 long horsehairs made the soft lining. Though 

 strong and firm, it was on the sides so thin, 

 that, as mentioned above, the movements of the 

 young could be seen through it. 



This pretty cup, around which so many hopes 

 had centred, was of a size for a fairy's home- 

 stead, hardly two inches inside diameter, and 

 less than two inches deep. I carried it off as a 

 memento of a delightful June among the hills of 

 the old Bay State. 



