THE HOUSE THAT FELL 
tion, although for an hour previously I had 
not dared look away, and the birdling would 
be out like a flash before I could realize it. 
Fortunately a brood which we were watch- 
ing in an old tree in the forest were less shy. 
The oldest son of this family sat in the 
doorway a long time making up his mind 
to try his fortunes, then crawled out and 
sat on top of the stump in which his home 
was located. The absence of any red on 
his gray head and the narrower stripes of 
black and white on his back made him look 
very unlike his parents. He remained on 
the stump all day, fed as usual but making 
no effort to help himself. Afterwards I saw 
him following a downy woodpecker about 
and begging with cries and quivering wings 
to be fed. And dainty Madam Downy 
fed him as patiently as though he were not 
twice as big as she. 
One night, when the little family in my 
yard were about ready to fly, a hard wind 
and rain storm wrecked houses and tore 
down trees. Among the latter was the 
177 
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