BIRDS NESTS. 



Hearing no reply from his comrade below, 

 \\<h looked down, and to his horror saw that 

 they were all caught. 



" Come down both of you directly/' said 

 Mr. Miller, quietly. 



The boys, seeing that there was no help for 

 them, came down, looking much frightened. 



"Erst," said Mr. Miller, " let that bird fly." 



The boy opened his hand, and the poor bird 

 flew off like an arrow. 



"Now, what business have you in my 

 orchard ? Have you forgotten what happened 

 to the boys who were caught last autumn in 

 Mr. Long's orchard ? A fortnight in gaol was 

 paying dear, I think, for a pocketful of apples." 



" But we did not come to steal apples, Sir," 

 said the elder of the boys. 



" I know very well that you could not steal 

 apples in May ; but I don't know whether you 

 would not have tried to do so when the season 

 comes, if I had not caught you now. Once 

 get used to breaking fences and trespassing in 



