24 



AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



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Address communications for this department to 



Meg Merrythought, 156 Waterville Street, 

 Waterbury, Ct. 



My Dear Young Folks: 



Dorothy and Harold have asked me to tell you about the Christmas 

 tree which they trimmed for some little neighbors of theirs, and I am 

 glad to do it, for perhaps some of you may like to decorate one too. 



There was one morning during the past week when mother did not 

 have to call you. Before it was fairly light we heard little feet 

 scampering across the floor, to where the row of stockings hung, 

 bulging most amazingly. Then what chattering and giggling, there 

 was as treasures were pulled forth from their depths. Had you been 

 in a certain town in Connecticut, that same morning, you might have 

 seen a row of stockings so tiny, that they would fit only the foot of a 

 fairy, and so full of holes that you might wonder if Santa Claus would 

 dare attempt to fill them, but they were filled to the very top, not with 

 candy and toys, but with bits of bread, cake, nuts and fruit, neither did 

 they hang iu a warm chimney corner, but swayed in the December 

 winds from arbor and syringa bush in the door yard. You have 

 already guessed who claimed the contents of these stockings. 



Not far above the house, Dorothy and Harold had trimmed a little 

 spruce tree for the Bird's Christmas. It was still growing and its 

 green branches were filled with a motley array. 



Festoons of red berries, sunflower seeds and pop-corn were looped 

 from twig to twig on the top of the tree tips and on the trunk were 

 fastened pieces of suet, with tiny bright red peppers for a relish; a 

 marrow bone, some pumpkin seeds, some grapes and peanuts added 

 variety and on the tip top ot the tree was a great bunch of holly tied 

 with one of Dorothy's red ribbon's. 



It did not take long for the birds to discover the feast. All day long 

 there was a jolly company there. Blue Jays, Chickadees, Creepers, Nut- 



