FATHER VERDIN HAS HIS OWN NEST 
The children were again looking in the bushes along 
the fence for the nest of a harvest mouse. 
“I have found one!” said Buddy, as he looked up in a 
bush that was a little higher than the others. In the 
branches there hung a big ball of twigs and weed stems 
built like that which the harvest mouse used for a nest. 
“Let’s see if Mother Harvest Mouse is at home,” said 
Marylee, as she looked for a hole in the side of the ball. 
“Here is the door on this side, Marylee,” said Buddy. 
“I think I saw something in it. I am not sure.” 
As Marylee turned around to look into the door, she 
shook the bush. A little head suddenly appeared in the 
hole. But it was not that of a mouse. It was the pretty 
head of a little bird. When he saw the children and 
Uncle Jack looking at him, he hopped out and flew away. 
The children looked at each other in surprise. 
“What was a little bird doing in the nest of a harvest 
mouse,” asked Buddy at last. 
Uncle Jack laughed and said, “It does look very much 
like the nest of a harvest mouse, but that little bird made 
that nest.” 
“Do you think there are any eggs in it, Uncle Jack?” 
asked Bess. 
149 
