

MRS. HUMMING-BIRD. 



A TRUE STORY. 



One day grandpa said to Harry and Ida, " Children, if you will 

 come out while I am picking peas to-morrow morning, you will see 

 something very pretty." That was all he would tell them. 



They kept wondering about it every little while through the day, 

 and made mamma promise to wake them early. I was a little 

 curious, myself, to know what could be there at six o'clock in the 

 morning, and at no other time. 



The children were very wide awake at the appointed hour, and 

 full of fun. Grandpa said they must be quiet, or they would 

 frighten away his little pet. 



" Won't you tell us what it is, grandpa? " cried Harry, 



" Do tell us, grandpa ! " chimed in Ida. 



Grandpa smiled, with a teasing look in his eyes, and said, " Oh, 

 you will soon find out ' for yourselves, if her royal highness favors 

 us." 



He had been at work only a few minutes, and was whistling 

 softly to himself, when out flew the daintiest little humming-bird ! 

 Her nest was in a quince-tree, just beyond the fence. 



At first she was very shy, and did not alight; but her wings 



