THE NEW TENANTS. 



By Elanora Kinsley Marble. 



Mr. Wren had no need to inquire 

 the cause of his mate's distress, for at 

 this moment a loud and vehement Jay- 

 jay-jay^ resounded from an adjacent 

 tree. 



" Ha! " said he, "it is that villian 

 Mr. Blue Jay at last. I have been 

 expecting a call from him for some 

 time. I heard yesterday that he was 

 caught sucking the eggs of Mrs. Red- 

 eyed Vireo, and that Mrs. Dove was 

 mourning more than usual because 

 out of four beautiful eggs she had only 

 one left. But never you mind, my 

 dear, never you mind! He daren't 

 go near our nest you see, for Bridget 

 is out there with her broom, and if 

 he should dare attack us, why " 



"Well!" chirped Mrs. Wren, who 

 at once saw the force of his reasoning, 

 " what would you do, Mr. Wren, should 

 he attack us? I'd like to know because 

 I am quite sure what dear papa would 

 have done under the circumstances." 



"So am I," responded Mr. Wren 

 with a chuckle, " so am I." 



" So are you — what? " retorted Mrs 

 Wren, angrily tapping the perch on 

 which she sat with her foot. 



" Sure what your dear papa would 

 have done, my dear, under the circum- 

 stances. Ha, ha, ha !" and Mr. Wren 

 flirted his tail over his head and 

 hopped about in anything but a digni- 

 fied or warrior-like manner. 



Mrs. Wren surveyed him with con- 

 tempt and surprise. 



"Of all the ex-as-per-at-ing 

 creatures," she said, " you are the 

 worst. First you whispered and bid 

 me be silent, and now just look at you 

 hopping about and jibbering like an 

 idiot ! I wish Mr. Blue Jay would 

 come over here and " 



"Come over here?" Mr. Wren 

 almost turned a somersault in his 

 glee. " Come over here, my dear ! 

 Not much ! Don't you see that King- 

 bird over there with his eye on Mr. 

 Jay ! There's going to be a fight, a 

 real knock-down, feather-pulling fight, 

 and I — / won't be in it f and Mr. 

 Wren whistled and chattered and 

 flirted his tail in a greatly relieved 

 and truly funny manner. 



"If I wasn't so anxious about the 

 eggs," said Mrs. Wren, "I'd stay here 

 and see the fight, too. They are well 

 matched, both such fine, handsome 

 birds — especially Mr. Jay. Ah, how 

 it does all remind me of dear papa." 



Mr. Wren could have laughed aloud 

 when he thought of her plain, crooked- 

 legged little father, but he only sniffed 

 and said something about Mr. Jay 

 being a saucy, impudent dude. 



"But really, now, he is handsome," 

 repeated Mrs. Wren, "only see how his 

 head feathers stand up! My, how 

 angry they both are. What can be 

 the matter, I wonder?" 



"If you will stop talking for a 

 minute," returned Mr. Wren, "per- 

 haps we can hear. 



49 



