custom of feeding the birds. When the The first birds that came were blue 

 ground is covered with snow they take jays, and they looked so pretty on the 

 bunches of grain and fasten them to snow. I have lots of dear, little snow 

 posts or to the corners of barns and birds and yesterday morning, guess 

 thus the little birds find food. Some- what came! A dear meadow lark! He 

 times the birds travel long distances was exactly like the picture in your 

 over the most desolate country to the book. I don't seem to have any wood- 

 sections where the kind people live who peckers, but then you didn't have blue 

 provide for their need when the ground jays, so it is fair, you see. 

 is buried under the snow. Even the I have found out that the blue jays 

 poor people manage to spare a little rather have corn-bread than wheat, 

 grain. When I read this I determined but the tree sparrows like the wheat 

 that I too, would look out for the little most. You remember Polly, my parrot 

 birdies and pleasant work I have found — Well, I tried giving the birds the 

 it." eaten-out corn she left in her cage and 



Beth was delighted with all she heard they just love that, 

 and the happiest moments of her visit I must- tell you one more thing before 



were spent in feeding the birds or in I say good bye. I told my dearest 



hearing her Aunt talk about them. She little friend many of the things you told 



soon learned that while the wood- me and so she got all interested too, 



peckers and nuthatches loved suet and and so we've decided to get up a Bird 



crumbs the chick-a-dees were fond of Club, and all the little girls and boys 



corn-meal mixed with red pepper, and who will promise to feed the birds can 



all the birds were delighted with rice and join it. Don't you think that will be 



•hominy. nice? I'll write more about it next 



When the storm was over Aunt Mary time. Good bye, 

 took her out in the yard and showed Beth. 



her how she had a box fixed on a stump P. S. Here is a little verse I made up. 



where' she placed the food when the Do you like it? 

 snow did not prevent; and of how one To the birds we will be kind, 



day a woodpecker had alighted on her Crumbs they will be sure to find, 



shoulder when she was carrying out the For we'll feed them day by day, 



food. Another day a nuthatch had come And we'll love them just alway. 



up on the piazza and almost to the kit- B. 



chen door, he was in such a hurry for A few days later when Beth came 



his breakfast. home from school she found a package. 



As her visit drew to a close Beth felt It was directed in Aunt Mary's hand, 



almost sorrowful at the thought of leav- and the little girl eagerly tore off the 



ing her little, feathered friends. But her wrappings. Beth clapped her hands 



Aunt consoled her with the assurance with delight when she found the package 



that she would surely find some birds was made up of pretty cards ; on each 



to feed at home. ^ one Aunt Mary had painted two of the 



Not long after Beth reached home cutest little birds perched on a leafless 



her Aunt was delighted to receive a let- branch, and underneath was Beth's own 



ter' which read: little verse in beautiful gold letters. 



Dear Aunt Mary: There was also a place for a name to be 



You were right, there were birds wait- signed, 

 ing to be fed right here in Connecticut, "Oh! mamma," she exclaimed, "won't 



only I shouldn't have known about them these be perfectly elegant for our club? 



if I hadn't gone to New York State to And mamma, how much I would have 



visit you. I haven't any stumps to put missed, how much the birds would have 



boxes on for the birds' food, but I put missed if I hadn't made that visit to 



a board out of the window for the bird's Aunt Mary's !" 

 table. Grace T. Thompson. 



