NESTLINGS OF FOREST AND MARSH 
stood guard near but not on it, often going 
down to it to look and admire if he thought 
no one could see. In exactly thirteen days 
I knew, by his absence from his usual post 
and his new anxiety with regard to my visit, 
that the first little one was hatched. For 
almost the first time he scolded me, because 
now there was something so beautiful and 
wonderful in that tiny nest, he was sure I 
would want it for my own. And truly 
there was something beautiful and wonder- 
ful, though only infinitesimal bits of naked 
birdlings. Every part of the little bodies was 
perfect in proportion ; even the small heads 
were round and pretty, at least to one who 
loves bird-babies. They were the smallest 
nestlings I have seen except those of the 
humming-bird. 
At the end of a week they had pin feathers 
on wings and tail and down on head and 
back. In another week the feathers were 
fairly out, and the wee birds were the prettiest 
things in the wood. They climbed up on 
the edge of the nest and looked out into the 
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