Spring in the Apple Tree. 65 



Mother Robin said, " That is a baby's cradle ; 

 watch, and you will see the baby wake up and crawl 

 out of the cradle. That baby learns to fly very 

 quickly. When your wings have grown stronger, 

 and your feathers have grown longer, I will teach 

 you how to fly." 



That made the little robins very glad, for they 

 wanted to fly like Mother Robin/ 



As they watched the cocoon, one morning, they 

 saw a little head peep out, and then what do you 

 think they saw next ? A beautiful butterfly with 

 golden brown wings. 



They wanted to fly up to the butterfly, but they 

 had not yet learned how to use their wings. 



Mother Robin said, " To-morrow big Mother Tree 

 wants every one to come to a party. 



" Birds and bees are coming to sing ; butterflies 

 are coming ; and the violets, crocuses, buttercups, 

 and snow-drops that live down in the grass under 

 the tree will be there with their smiling faces. You 

 may fly down there to see them. O ! we shall have 

 a happy time." 



The little birdies were so glad and talked so 

 fast, they were not at all sleepy that night. They 

 wanted the morning to come quickly. 



The next morning, they were awake very early. 



