352 Bird -Lore 



2 We are so happy blithe and gay, so busy, busy all the day 



From early Spring till time to fly away, 

 Mating, nesting, then at last the little birds come so fast. 

 We have to search for food ahvay. 



Chorus. 



3 At peep of dawn we ope our eyes and spread our wings and mount the skies, 



And view the earth so far below. 

 Then down we come so hastily, to catch the early worm you see 

 And O, what bliss you do not know. 



Chorus. 



4 The woods are full of lovely things, limpid pools and bubbling springs 



While babbling brooks go rushing by, 

 Shady dells and blossoms sweet and bright red berries ripe to eat 

 And O, such wonders round us lie. 



Chorus. 



5 Merrily, right merrily, we flit about from tree to tree, 



Pouring forth our happy strain. 

 Till man comes, and just for fun, he robs our nests, and fires his gun, 

 And turns our joy to grief and pain. 



Chorus. 



{A gun is fired, and birds fly away.) 



(Enter Bobbie, gun in hand, steps about cautiously, peering up into tree. Lifts gun, 

 aims. Enter Arthur with camera in hand.) 



Arthur. — Hello, Bobbie, that you? What are you doing out here? Stop! Bobbie, 

 don't! (Hurries forward with hand outstretched entreatingly.) 



Bobbie (lowers gun, looking around impatiently). — There, you scared him away! 

 A Bluebird, too. There he goes, now! (Lifts gun, takes aim. Arthur seizes his arm.) 



Arthur. — For shame, Bobbie; you wouldn't kill a Bluebird, would you? 



Bobbie (surprised). — Why sure! Why not? What are birds for, if not to kill! Me 

 and Jimmy Bean are trying to see which can kill the most. He's ahead now, but I'll 

 have him beat all hollow before night. 



Arthur. — Why, Bobbie, don't you know it is a shame and a disgrace to kill birds 

 nowadays? 



Bobbie (scornfully). — Aw, go long! What you talking about? They aren't any- 

 thing but birds. Why what are birds, anyway? They're nothing but just — just — just — 

 birds. That's all birds are. 



Arthur. — That's because you don't know them. See what I've got? 



Bobbie (examining camera curiously). — Why it's a camera, isn't it? What are 

 you doing out here in the woods with a camera? 



Arthur.— Taking the birds' pictures. 



Bobbie. — Taking the birds' pictures ! Oh, my ! (Goes off into a fit of laughter.) 



Arthur. — Certainly! Making a study of the birds. You don't know how inter- 

 esting it is. I have taken over thirty different kinds of birds in this very woods. You 

 know I belong to the Audubon Society, and we are learning all about their ways and 

 their habits, taking their pictures, and getting acquainted with them; and that's a great 

 deal nicer than just killing them — don't you think so? 



