10 THE BIRD OF THE MORNING. 



little red breast, and the parent fluttered wildly 

 about while I found a stick, and jarred the 

 branch slightly as a gentle hint that he should 

 obey his papa. That started the youngster, and 

 away he flew, as well as anybody, to the other 

 side of the walk. 



Wondering why the mother did not take part 

 in this training, I peeped into the nest, where I 

 found her sitting, and I concluded she must be 

 raising a second family. It was indeed time 

 for that grown-up baby to learn to care for him- 

 self, before there was another family to feed. 

 While I was looking at the nest and its fright- 

 ened yet brave little owner, the young robin 

 came back and alighted on the ground, and so 

 proud and happy yet so anxious a parent is 

 rarely seen. It was soon evident that this was 

 Master Robin's first lesson in the worm busi- 

 ness ; he was now to be taught the base of sup- 

 plies, and I kept very quiet while the scene 

 went on. The father would hop ahead a few 

 feet and call persuasively, " Come on ! " The 

 awkward youngling answered loudly, " Wait ! 

 wait ! " Then he would hop a few steps, and 

 papa would dig up a worm to show him how, 

 and tenderly offer it as a slight lunch after 

 his exertion. So they went on, that clumsy 

 and greedy youngster induced by his desire for 

 worms, while the patient teacher encouraged, 



