54 
OUR HOME BIRDS. 
My feathers grew very fast, and I was soon warm 
enough even when she was away. 
“ ‘ I did not often know what it was to be hungry, 
for my mother brought me a plenty of the sweetest 
food she could find. I soon learned to love her very 
much, and I always tried to please her. If little 
boys and girls have such a kind mother as I had, I 
think they are very wicked to disobey them, as I 
have sometimes seen them do. 
“ ‘ When I was nearly large enough to fly I was 
terribly frightened. A very great boy climbed up to 
the nest and took me in his hand, and gave me to his 
little sister, who stood on the ground. My mother 
flew round and round the tree, appearing to be more 
distressed than I had ever seen her before. This 
moved the little girl to pity, and she begged her 
brother to put me back. At first he seemed unwill- 
ing to do so, but the kind gardener soon came and 
ordered him to return me instantly, and never to dis- 
turb our little home again. 
“‘The next spring I was old enough to build a 
nest ; and my dear mate and myself were so afraid 
of being disturbed that we made it in a concealed 
spot in a thicket of bushes in a retired pasture. At 
length four little birds made their appearance. 
“ ‘ As our little ones increased in size we were prom- 
ising ourselves the sweet privilege of teaching them 
