MRS. HUMMING-BIRD. 



105 



quivered in the sunshine, and showed the lovely colors. She flashed 

 around like a bit of a rainbow, and the cMldi-'en were wild with 

 delight. 



Grandpa pretended not to see her, and soon she gained more 

 courage. Then she flew back to her nest, and called her two 

 young ones. They had just begun to use their wings, and the 

 mother-bird coaxed them along to the pea-vines. 



The children had a good look at them then. They were about 

 as large as bumble-bees, only slimmer in the body. Their feathers 

 had begun to grow, and they seemed like a mixture of red and 

 green and gold. 



The mother-bird flew away, and left her little ones near grandpa, 

 as if she knew he would keep them from harm. In a few minutes- 

 she was back again, her bill laden with sweets, which she fed to 

 the birdies. 



She did this several times. Then she gave a little call, and flew 

 towards the nest. The birdies soon followed her. 



GrandjDa said she helped the little birds along with her bill the 

 first morning she came. 



The children 

 were delighted 

 with grandpa's 

 pet. They had 

 never seen a 

 humming-bird 

 before, and to 

 have one so 

 near was an in- 

 ducement for them to 

 wake up early. 



Mrs. Humming-bird 

 came every morning 

 until the little ones 

 were able to fly away, 

 and grandpa's peas 

 were all picked. 



