25. THE ROBIN. 



Washington's Birthday, Willie Clark 

 had a holiday, and he thought he would 

 have a fine time skating. 



There were many boys on the pond. While 

 racing with some of his friends, Willie fell and broke 

 his leg. 



Poor Willie ! he had to stay in bed four weeks. 

 That was a hard month for him ; but, one bright 

 morning the last of March, his father carried him 

 to a window where there was a large easy chair. 



" Thank you, father," he said. " This is very 

 nice. Oh, look ! the grass is green and the buds 

 are opening. Hark ! was that a bird singing ? " 



" Mother Nature has been hard at work while you 

 have been in bed," said his mother. " There is a 

 robin under the window. He is one of the first 

 birds to come back to us, and we are always so glad 

 to see him. We feel that when the robin comes, 

 spring is coming too." 



" Will you, please, bring me some crumbs, 

 mother ? " asked Willie, " I will throw them to 

 him." 



