AND THEIR NEIGHBORS. 
221 
their neighbors ; they had no doubt but that 
he felt keenly insulted by the exaggerated 
account that Mrs. Blackbird had given him 
of. his own remarks, and which they had 
but that day become acquainted with. They 
acknowledged they should not have spoken of 
him as they did, and he was not so much to 
blame for resenting it. 
Stop ! ” interrupted Bob : your precepts 
and practice do not agree, for you have shown 
that you will not resent an injury. But I feel 
myself growing weak. Towhee, I must now 
leave these poor orphans of mine ; will you 
and your mate, like good friends as you are, 
continue the kind treatment that you have 
lately given them ? Will you educate them in 
all the good precepts that you can teach so 
well, and endeavor to make them as good 
members of society as yourselves ? Will you 
do this for the children of your late enemy ? ” 
^^We will,” answered the Towhees. ^^We 
should feel, indeed, that we were undeserving 
of the friendship of our neighbors if we 
should abandon these poor chicks. And, as 
