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A Chronicle of Three Little Kings. 
297 
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comforts and faith of a very small body 
of unknown, expatriated English yeo- 
men ; but generations of a great people 
have given that record largeness ; and 
we shall search far to find a similarly 
noble account of the beginnings of any 
other people. 
In conclusion, I may confess that I 
have made of history a thing of shreds 
and patches. I have only to say that 
the life of the world is a thing of shreds 
and patches, and it is only when we 
consider the well-rounded life of an in- 
dividual that we find permeating the 
record a reasonable constancy of purpose. 
This is the province of biography, and 
we must not confound biography with 
history. Their conduct and their les- 
sons are different and independent. The 
man is a part of his age, but he requires 
a different gauge. The age is influenced 
by the man, but it is fickle where he is 
constant, halting where he is marching, 
and active where he is contemplative. 
Neither the man nor the age can fall 
behind the years, but, like cannon-balls 
linked by a rod, the onward course of 
the twain is marked by different revolu- 
tions, and no one can tell which will 
strike the target first. 
Justin Winsor. 
A CHRONICLE OF THREE LITTLE KINGS. 
Theke was 
“ Riot of roses and babble of birds, 
All the world in a whirl of delight,” 
when the three baby kingbirds opened 
their eyes to the June sunlight. Three 
weeks I had watched, if I had not as- 
sisted at, the rocking of their cradle, 
followed day by day the patient brood- 
ing, and carefully noted the manners 
and customs of the owners thereof. At 
last my long vigil was rewarded. It 
was near the end of a lovely June day, 
when June days were nearly over, that 
there appeared a gentle excitement in 
the kingbird family. The faithful sitter 
arose, with a peculiar cry that brought 
her mate at once to her side, and both 
looked eagerly together into the nest 
that held their hopes. Once or twice 
the little dame leaned over and made 
some arrangements within, and then sud- 
denly she slipped back into her place, 
and her spouse flew away. But some- 
thing had happened, it was plain to see ; 
for from that moment she did not sit 
so closely, her mate showed unusual in- 
terest in the nest, and both of them often 
stood upon the edge at the same time. 
That day was doubtless the birthday of 
the first little king. 
To be sure, the careful mother still 
sat on the nest part of every day, but 
that she continued to do, with ever- 
lengthening intervals, till every infant 
had grown up and left the homestead 
forever. 
All through the sitting the work of 
the head of the family had been con- 
fined to encouraging his partner with 
an early morning song and his cheerful 
presence during the day, and to guard- 
ing the nest while she sought her food ; 
but now that her most fatiguing labor 
was over, his began. At first he took 
entire charge of the provision supply, 
while she kept her nurslings warm and 
quiet, which every mother, little or big, 
knows is of great importance. When 
the young father arrived with food, 
which he did frequently, his spouse 
stepped to the nearest twig and looked 
on with interest, while he leaned over 
and filled one little mouth, or at any 
rate administered one significant poke 
which must be thus interpreted. He did 
not stay long ; indeed, he had not time, 
327. Kingbird and Kingfisher. By Fred T. Jencks. Ibid., VI, p. 64. 
— The latter attacked by the former. 
The Colored Crovjn of the Kingbird. By J. G. R[ich]. Ibid., 
p. 1S4. For, 9 s stream, 
The Cjywn of the Kingbird. By C. W. Beckham. Ibid., Oct. 
S'**. & Stream, XXV 
1 1 1 3 
Oct. 1, 
1114. 
8, p. 264. 
1108. The Colored Patch in the Crown of the Kingbird . By C. Hart 
Merriam, M. D. Ibid., Sept 14^.14^ F 0 r, T; Stream, XXV 
144. Kingbirds catch Fish. 
Kingbirds catchings minnows. 
iiio. The Colored Patch in the Croton of the Kingbird. Bv J. L. 
Davison. Ibid., Sept. 24, p. 164. Y'K ft Stream XXV 
By Milton 
For. ft Stream 
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