Ver:mont Bird Ciab 11 



family, and was perfectly fearless. We then took him out of doors 

 each day, and later he lived out of doors day and night, though he 

 came into the house by door or window at pleasure. We added to his 

 diet bits of scraped beef, millers, apples, bread and other things (once 

 even a bit of sweet chocolate). He soon learned to catch part of his 

 own food for which the family were duly thankful. 



Dick was very fond of his bath. All I had to do was to appear on 

 the porch with his little dish in my hand in the morning, when Dick 

 came hurrying to me. Sometimes he did not wait for me to put down the 

 dish, but would fairly tumble into it right in my hand, splashing me 

 and himself impartially. 



Dick was a great favorite and pet. Even after he grew strong 

 enough to care for himself he stayed nearby and was a valued member 

 of our family. He was particularly fond of my Uncle, and followed 

 him about wherever he went. One day he went to the postoffice with 

 him to the joy and admiration of children. 



Early in the morning when Uncle opened his blinds, Dick was on 

 hand, and would fly in on to his head, or his back, calling loudly for 

 flies. Then he would remain on Uncle's head or about his room until 

 he was ready for breakfast, riding down to the dining-room on his 

 shoulder. When Uncle went into the garden to pick berries Dick was 

 there to help. If he sat on the porch to read his paper, Dick appeared 

 and sat on his shoulder. If Uncle became too interested in his paper, 

 Dick would reach down and kiss him. And if this did not cause him 

 to lay down the paper and take the bird on his knee to pet him, or 

 feed him bird-cherries, Dick would take hold of his ear and give a 

 sharp pull, or carefully select one hair in his mustache and give a 

 strong tug. 



Sometimes Dick would fly to the summer kitchen to see what was 

 going on there, and often tried to help Grandma cut apples. He was 

 delighted when she offered him a bit, and flew out into a tree to 

 eat it. He was also interested in ginger cookies and pies! 



Dick slept in the vine on the porch cold and wet nights, but other 

 nights he lodged in a maple tree outside Uncle's window, so as to be 

 ready to help him dress in the morning. 



We often had dinner on the wide veranda. Here our little bird 

 joined us, partaking freely of whatever pleased his palate most, and 

 flying to each one in turn, between bites, examining our ornaments 



