46 
THE BROWN THRUSHES: 
tites of their young ; tlius the days flew by, 
and all was happiness and peace. 
But soon, a cloud came across this beauti- 
ful scene. A pair of birds, neighbors with 
children of their own, becoming jealous of the 
beauty of the young Robins, and instigated by 
we know not what other base motive, deter- 
mined to steal one of these dear young ones, 
and keep it from its parents. You have seen 
by the evidence of a very reliable witness, Mr. 
Blue Jay, how the vile deed was accomplished, 
and learn from the conversation that he • 
gives, as having passed between himself and 
the defendants, that they were determined 
from the first to persist in their wicked act. 
The defence that they set up is so absurd that 
it cannot, for an instant, be listened to by any 
sensible birds ; for if they, the defendants, did 
not know how young Robin got into their nest, 
why did they not at once proceed to the par- 
ent’s home and learn from them the truth ? 
‘^VNo ! Birds of the Jury, they were deter- 
mined to keep the young one, as much to 
spite the parents, as to gratify their own base 
