APRIL. 



opening spring ; and this straggler comes now, 

 as it were with the welcome prelude to the 

 general concert about to burst upon us from 

 all the green woods and blooming orchards. 



M. The robins seem to be more social in 

 their nature than most of the feathered song- 

 sters, building their nests, and rearing their 

 young, even in our gardens ; don't you remem- 

 ber the nest of robins in ours last year ? 



H. Yes ; and I have no doubt, but this one 

 on the elm is one of the same family, and 

 means to confide in us for protection as he did 

 last year. 



M. Well, I think he will be very safe so far 

 as we can defend him ; you know that some 

 boys are so unprincipled as to shoot them ; I 

 am sorry there are such ; it proves they are 

 thoughtless and destitute of fine feelings, and 

 if all indulged themselves in such a cruel prac- 

 tice, our fields and orchards would be dreary 

 and sad, compared to what they now are. 



