14 



The Utch. 



perceiving that the entrance had been touched, she set up a doleful 

 lamentation, carefully rounded it again with her breast and 

 wings, so as to bring everything into proper order, after which 

 she and her mate attended to their young. These particular 

 young ones, only six in number, were fed by their parents 278 

 times in the course of a day. This was a small wren-family; 

 and if there had been twelve, or even sixteen, as is often the 

 case, what an amount of labour and care the birds must have 

 But they would have been equal to it, and merry all the 



had! 

 time. 



For all these little creatures, which so lightly we regard, 

 They love to do their duty, and they never think it hard. 



