22 
BY THE WAYSIDE. 
Pore Mr. Drake feel very much insulted by 
lie treatment at co't, an’ he think it ’ca se he 
sech er plain, ugly bird an’ all de cot oisifeis 
so fine; an’ he don’ want ter go back no mo’, 
but he want he money powerful. So he clean 
up he clo’es, an’ take he way back to co t, an 
walk in as befo’, an’ say, “Quack, quack, quack! 
I want my money back!” 
An’ de King he mo’ mad dan eber; an' he 
say, “I got ter git rid ob dis crazy bird some 
way;” an’ he call Mr. Fox, an’ tell him to 
“take Mr. Drake off to de woods an’ eat him 
up.” So Mr. Fox he pick up Mr. Drake, an’ 
run off to de woods. An Mr. Diake think 
lie time hab come. 
But when Mr. Mockin’-bird see he ol’ friend 
in such danger, lie feel he bound ter help 
him; an’ presen’ly a bird drap like he dade 
right in de path ob Mr. Fox. 
Mr. Fox say, “Hyar’s er good mouthful;” 
so he try to liol’ on ter Mr. Drake wid he foot 
while he eat de bird. But when he fin’ him¬ 
self loose, Mr. Drake run erway, an’ Mr. 
Mockin’-bird fly up on de tree. Den Mr. Fox 
hyar er noise like er man callin er dog, an’ 
lie think de hunters cornin’, an' he run off home 
fas’ as he kin go. 
Den pore ol’ Mr. Drake feel so ’umble an’ 
lost heart, an’ he tell Mr. Mockin -bird all he 
troubles. An’ Mr. Mockin’-bird tell him, tak 
courage; he know dar some mistake ’ca’se de 
King am honor’ble. An’ so dey journey back 
to de co’t once mo’; an’ Mr. Mockin’-bird set 
up on de tree to fin’ out what de matter. 
Pore ol’ Mr. Drake he walk up to de King, 
brave, an’ he say up promp’, “Quack, quack, 
quack! I want my money back!” De King 
was mos’ ’straeted, an’ he ’bout to hab Mr. 
Drake killed on de spot, when Mr. Mockin’- 
bird he see Mr. Buzzard workin’ in de mud 
down back ob de co’t. an’ he say, “Oh, Mr. 
King, dar de fellar dat pass off fo’ yo’ Ma¬ 
jesty an’ borrv de money!’ An’ de King was 
powerful angry, an’ he call up Mr. Buzzard 
from he work, an’ make him pay Mr. Drake 
he money. Den he order all de feddars striped 
frum Mr. Buzzard’s neck, an’ sand rubbed in 
he eye. So Mr. Buzzard neber try to be taken 
for King Eagle since dat day. 
Mr. Drake say, “Thank yo’ ” to Mr. Mockin’- 
bird, an’ he journey back home, feelin’ very 
proud, an’ savin’. “Quack, quack, quack! I 
not my money back.” 
Notes from an Aviary. 
(CONCLUDED.) 
Ill the first week of September who should 
come into the yard but a fine golden-winged 
woodpecker. We watched him for over an 
hour but he went away. The next day there 
were two of them, and you may imagine how 
we were wishing them to go in. \\ e waited and 
waited and finally one of them walked into the 
vestibule;- the door closed and we opened the 
aviary to welcome it. The other one flew to 
a tree above the aviary and remained there 
for some time. The next day it returned and 
kissed its mate through the wire. We called 
the one we had “Juliet,” and the other Born¬ 
eo.” Romeo kept coming three times a day, 
very early in the morning, then at ten, and 
at four in the afternoon. He would come on 
to the cage and they would kiss each other. 
This went on for three weeks and I felt so 
sorry for Juliet that I made up my mind to 
set her free; when one morning at six o’clock 
Romeo arrived with his mind made up to 
find his way in. He investigated every foot 
of the roof of the aviary, accompanied by 
Juliet within. Finally he came down to the 
vestibule. She stood close to the door, and 
he entered. Both were happy and I was more 
than happy. 
Now came the fall, when twenty robins and 
many of the other birds were given their 
conge. It was a sad proceeding, as they all 
insisted upon remaining, some of them stay¬ 
ing around the aviary for three weeks before 
going south. I kept in the aviary, four robins, 
Romeo and Juliet, Jake, two whistlers, two 
pheasants, and three quails. This was done 
to test how well-fed birds would stand our 
winter climate. We provided many warm 
nooks for them and they all kept well and 
happy through the cold weather. In a large 
room in the basement I kept six robins, two 
thrashers, Martha and George, two little tow- 
bees (the pugilists), two little whistlers, and 
three turtle doves. These were all taken out 
to the aviary early in the spring, and since 
then many new birds have been added. Five 
of my robins of last year came back, and I 
heard from Kentucky that a sixth had been 
shot there. Those that returned, with their 
Ifttle bracelets on, seemed to feel that they 
were entitled to a place in the aviary, and as 
soon as they were admitted began to pick 
their feathers and make themselves at home. 
The aviary has been enlarged and in its dif- 
Frovi St. Nicholas. 
