OUR BIRDS IN WINTER. 
91 
is shown in a different way. What I call un- 
grateful is to receive our services through the 
year, and deny us, particularly those valuable 
birds, the Thrushes, Robins, and others who 
love the taste of a cherry or strawberry now 
and then, and richly earn them, the poor privi- 
lege of eating a few when we wish ; that is 
base ingratitude, and we would serve the whole 
race of mankind rightly if we should, for a 
season, have nothing to do with him ; leave 
his farms and gardens and fields to their de- 
struction, and let him see, then, which can do 
without the other. I am of the opinion that 
he would be right glad to get us back, and I 
think we should not hear any thing more of 
the mischief of birds. But we will not act 
thus unkindly ; it is better to suffer in a good 
cause than to glory in a bad one. But it is 
growing late, we had better procure our sup- 
pers and retire, and to-morrow we will meet 
again in this place, and make our arrange- 
ments for the coming season.” 
At these words the party scattered among 
the trees, and after a hearty repast, moved off 
