^2 JVays of Wood Folk. 



to the house. It was a typical nest-making day, the 

 sun pouring his bright rays through delicate green 

 leaves and a glory of white apple blossoms, the air 

 filled with warmth and fragrance, birds and bees busy 

 everywhere. Orioles seem always happy ; to-day they 

 quite overflowed in the midst of all the brightness, 

 though materials were scarce and they must needs be 

 diligent. 



The female was very industrious, never returning 

 to the nest without some contribution, while the male 

 frolicked about the trees in his brilliant orange and 

 black, whistling his warm rich notes, and seeming 

 like a dash of southern sunshine amidst the blossoms. 

 Sometimes he stopped in his frolic to find a bit of 

 string, over which he raised an impromptu jubilate, 

 or to fly with his mate to the nest, uttering that soft 

 rich twitter of his in a mixture of blarney and con- 

 gratulation whenever she found some particularly 

 choice material. But his chief part seemed to be to 

 furnish the celebration, while she took care of the 

 nest-making. 



Out in front of mc, under the lee of the old wall 

 whither some line-stripping gale had blowii it, was 

 a torn fragment of cloth with loose threads showing 

 everywhere. I was wondering why the birds did not 

 utilize it, when the male, in one of his lively flights, 

 discovered it and flew down. First he hopped all 



