6o BIRD PARADISE 



day he brought one of his children with him — 

 his oldest son, I fancied — and snch a time as he 

 had in giving the boy a few lessons in flicker 

 housekeeping. I found time to take in the scene 

 and do a little hand-clapping over the young fel- 

 low's success. Sometimes when I am watching 

 one of these family scenes I feel that a little 

 wholesome correction would do the youngster 

 good, and greatly relieve the mind of the parent 

 bird, but they get on with little or no discipline 

 and get on well. My visitor spends an hour or 

 more with me usually, then hies away to the 

 grove on Burritt's Hill, where I presume the 

 other members of his family await his coming. 



Sunday was a full day, rain falling steadily 

 almost without intermission from sun to sun. 

 The thirsty earth drank it with avidity and the 

 plants and trees clapped their hands with joy. 

 The birds seemed to share in the general out- 

 burst of praise. Some of the songs were all the 

 better for the rain. The next morning dawned 

 bright and fair, all cheery with new life. I was 

 out early and more than half fancied that garden, 

 lawn and birds were unusually jubilant with 

 praise. I put my ear to the service of catching 



