204 BIRDS NESTS. 



utterly useless, and the duck was no where to 

 be seen. After a short search, her dead body 

 was found lying among the shrubs ; from 

 which it was pretty clear that the thief had 

 carried off the eggs, but was afraid to take 

 the duck as well, lest he should be detected 

 by the feathers. 



There was great grief in the house when 

 the story was told, and Henry particularly 

 was very indignant with the culprit. " Poor 

 duck," he said, " that used to be so tame, and 

 let me feed it whenever I liked ! What can 

 they have killed it for, if they did not want it 

 to eat ? I wish we could catch the thief, and 

 send him to prison. Papa ! I do think John- 

 son must have done it." 



" What reason have you for thinking that ? ' 

 said Mr. Miller. 



" Oh, I don't know, except that he is just 

 the sort of fellow to break into any one's gar- 

 den and steal eggs." 



" I am afraid," replied Mr. Miller, " that 



; 



