HE FED THE BEGGAE ! 117 



The urchin understood, and moved a little far- 

 ther off ; but perhaps the next time he asked he 

 would be fed. They learned the lesson, how- 

 ever, and in less than two days from the first 

 hint they became almost entirely independent. 



One morning the whole family happened to 

 meet at table. The mother came first, and then 

 the three young ones, all of whom were trying 

 their best to feed themselves. At last came 

 their " natural provider ; " and one of the juve- 

 niles, who found the grains almost unmanage- 

 able, could not help begging of him. He gently 

 but firmly drove the pleader away, as if he said, 

 " My son, you are big enough to feed yourself." 

 The little one turned, but did not go ; he stood 

 with his back toward his parent, and wings still 

 fluttering. Then papa flew to a low branch of 

 the spruce-tree, and instantly the infant followed 

 him, still begging with quivering wings. Sud- 

 denly the elder turned, and I expected to see 

 him annihilate that beggar, but, to my surprise, 

 he fed him! He could not hold out against 

 him ! He had been playing the stern parent, 

 but could not keep it up. It was a very pretty 

 and very human-looking performance. 



A day or two after the family had learned to 

 take care of themselves, the original pair, the 

 parents of the pretty brood, came and went to- 

 gether to the field, while the younglings ap- 



