240 W A UTUMN. 



have language and an abundance of fore- 

 thought, and so are better worth study than 

 some would have us believe. 



The woods were now, for the first time, 

 really silent. I listened for several minutes, but 

 could detect no sound, and was delighted at last 

 when the wind sprang up and rustled the dead 

 leaves. Then a faint chirp was heard, and a 

 chickadee came within arm's reach. Its busy 

 search for food reminded me that I had brought 

 food with me, and I sat down to eat. Tossing 

 the crumbs before me, they were scrutinized by 

 the little bird, but not closely, and I was myself 

 more the object of its curiosity. How I longed 

 for it to perch upon me ! But it would not, and 

 my opportunity for a pretty story was lost. 

 6irds do not like solitude. Where there is one 

 chickadee, rest assured another is not far off ; and 

 soon there were two before me. And now I 

 would that some critical know-all would tell us 

 the meaning of such an action as this : these 

 chickadees came together ; they faced each other, 

 twittered faintly in each other's ears, then looked 

 directly toward me; then came nearer, and, 

 alighting on a branch not three feet from my 

 head, looked down at me, twittering all the 

 while. Would they have done this had I been a 

 stump ? Were they not discussing me ? He 

 who says they were not may be a " thorough nat- 



