A Paradise of Birds 



withal they are hardy and brave, fearless 

 fighters in defense of home. When we boys 

 approached their knot-hole nests, the bold 

 little fellows kept scolding and diving at us and 

 tried to strike us in the face, and oftentimes 

 we were afraid they would prick our eyes. But 

 the boldness of the little housekeepers only 

 made us love them the more. 



None of the bird people of Wisconsin wel- 

 comed us more heartily than the common 

 robin. Far from showing alarm at the coming 

 of settlers into their native woods, they reared 

 their young around our gardens as if they liked 

 us, and how heartily we admired the beauty 

 and fine manners of these graceful birds and 

 their loud cheery song oiFear not, fear not, cheer 

 up, cheer up. It was easy to love them for they 

 reminded us of the robin redbreast of Scotland. 

 Like the bluebirds they dared every danger in 

 defense of home, and we often wondered that 

 birds so gentle could be so bold and that sweet- 

 voiced singers could so fiercely fight and scold. 



Of all the great singers that sweeten Wiscon- 

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