24 THE ROMANCE OF EVERIFARM 



winter, but now he was getting terribly tired of it. 

 He wanted to see spring come, to hear the song of 

 the birds, and have the green leaves on the trees, 

 so that he could lie out on the swaying branches 

 during the warm days, and be lulled to sleep in the 

 protecting shade by the gentle breezes. 



Happy Jack's wish was soon realized, as the sun- 

 shine drove the snows: away, and brought the birds 

 from their winter resorts in the South. 



"Hello, Cock Robin! My, I am glad to see you!" 

 chattered Jack, as Cock Robin flew up into the big 

 elm, all tired out after his long flight from Alabama. 



"There is Diamond Bluebird, and I hear Meadow 

 Lark. Spring is about here. I have been terribly 

 lonesome without you boys. It seems like living to 

 have you all back again. Have you selected the 

 location for your house this spring?" 



"What's that to you? Don't know that I would 

 tell you if I had," Cock Robin retorted candidly. 

 "I am rather suspicious of you. Blackbird Jim and 

 Tom the catbird are telling some bad tales about you. 

 They say that their homes were broken up last 

 summer, and the evidence of their friends points to 

 you as the home-wrecker," accusingly concluded 

 Cock Robin. 



"Now let me tell you something that will put an 



