OUR FRIENDS, THE BIRDS. 69 
become enthusiastic bird lovers, it was not possible to 
have a full exercise every morning and almost before 
they knew it March had come. One night after school, 
the first week in March, Laura told her teacher that 
she was listening every day to hear the soft, plaintive 
notes of the Bluebird. 
The next morning was sunny, and Laura, with 
rosy cheeks, brightened by her exercise in the “out 
doors” which she loved so well, came running into the 
school room saying “I heard a Bluebird. It said: 
‘‘Spring is coming, almost here, 
Soon the violets will appear, 
And the Robins bring good cheer, 
Tru-al-ly, tru-al-ly, tru-al-ly.”’ 
Miss Sweet laughed and as the pupils quietly took 
their seats said: “If you will listen you may any of 
you hear ‘tru-al-ly, tru-al-ly, tru-al-ly,’ if you cannot 
hear all that Laura did. Where was the bird Laura?” 
“T don’t believe he was anywhere, unless he was 
in the clouds,” said Laura. “I’ve watched and listened 
many times, but I’ve never yet seen the first Bluebird, 
and his voice seems to come from nowhere in partic- 
ular.” 
The weather continued mild for several days and 
Laura soon reported that she had caught a glimpse of 
the bonny blue wings flitting about among the trees 
at home. 
“Baby” said she saw one sitting on the post that 
