62 



CLEVER MRS. PARTRIDGE. 



from her young, and had given them time to hide, she was ready 

 to fly away. I had seen them act in this way so often that I knew 



what it meant as soon as I saw her. That was why I was able to 

 catch this httle one." 



" Can I not take it home and make a cage for it? ' 



" 'So ; I think you had better let it go. You could not tame it, 

 and it would die in a few days." 



" Poor, little, scared thing ! I should not like to cause its death," 

 said Walter, as he carefully placed it on the ground. 



As soon as it was released it x-an into a thick clump of bushes 

 and hid ; and Walter could find neither the old bird nor any of the 

 little ones. 



