The Audubon Societies 



353 



Bobbie. — No, I'd rather go hunting. And when you go hunting you have to kill 

 things. And all the men my age hunt (strikes his chest proudly). 



Arthur. — No, they don't. That's where you are way off. Some do yet, maybe, 

 but men hunt mostly with the camera nowadays. You come and join our Audubon 

 Society, and you'll learn more interesting things about birds than you ever dreamed of. 



Bobbie. — No, I'm not going to join any Audubon Society. I'm no sissy. I'm going 

 to hunt like the men. 



Arthur. — All right, Bobbie. You go on and kill the birds if you want to. But — 

 every time you kill a bird, remember (holds up finger warningly) you are breaking up 

 some happy little family and bringing woe and misery among the most joyous little 

 creatures in the world. And what's more, just put yourself in their place, and think how 





you would like it yourself, if you were to have some one firing a gun at you, everywhere 

 you went. And how would you like to have your nice little home torn to pieces, your 

 father and mother and all your family killed before your very eyes? 



Bobbie. — Pooh! They don't care. Birds haven't any feelings. Birds don't know 

 anything. Birds haven't any sense. 



Arthur. — Oh, they haven't, have they! Well you should have been with me this 

 morning and watched them building their nests, and feeding their little ones, and seen 

 all their skilful ways, their clever devices, and their wise and sensible methods of doing 

 things. You'd be surprised. In fact, if you only knew how much like folks they really 

 were, you'd never want to kill another bird as long as you lived. Besides, we ought to 

 feel grateful to them for all they do for us. 



Bobbie. — For what they do for us! Why, what do you mean? 



Arthur. — Sure! Don't you know they eat up all the worms and insects that 

 destroy our crops? I just don't know what we would do without them. Reckon we'd 

 starve to death, with everything eaten up by the bugs. Oh, we'd be in a pretty fix, 

 we would! So you see, Bobbie, you are killing off our best friends when you kill the 

 birds. Come now, promise me you won't kill any more. Won't you? 



Bobbie (doubtfully). — I — I — don't know (frowns, shakes head). You see, Jimmie 

 Bean and me 



Arthur (impatiently). — All right ! Go on killing the birds if you want to, but every 



