TROUBLE IN THE HONEYSUCKLES. 177 



the ledge and the sill, and now I saw that they 

 lived in a thick clump of honeysuckle vines 

 that ran over a doorway not more than three 

 feet from the sill where he had taken his posi- 

 tion. Once or twice he entered the honey- 

 suckles, when there ensued a great chattering, 

 and he came out. 



It was pitiful to see the poor little creature, 

 and hear his loud cry all day. He lay flat 

 on his breast, his head often drooped, and I 

 thought he was dying. Every little while the 

 hen came to visit him, alighting near him, some- 

 times quietly talking, sometimes scolding, on 

 which he would fly away. This day also I saw 

 that the hen carried food into the honeysuckles, 

 and I concluded she had babies to feed, and per- 

 haps her remonstrances with him had been that 

 he did not help. Evidently she had a good deal 

 on her hands, hungry babies and a disabled 

 spouse. 



He was very awkward on his one leg, could 

 not stand up a moment, and when he moved 

 used his wings violently. Several times he fell 

 off the window sill, but caught himself by 

 means of his wings and flew back. Much of 

 the time he lay with his bill open, and looked 

 so weak I thought he could not live another 

 day. But the next morning a new emotion 

 came to brace him up, inducing him to do what 

 Mrs. Dombey failed in " make an effort." 



