mother sparrow, "she'll sing another 
song before long. I predict she'll be a 
shiftless sort of a thing when it comes 
to housekeeping. Mr. Britisher will 
repent him of his bargain ere many 
days, mark my words! Dearie," turn- 
ing to her only daughter, "sing that 
dear little note you learned of Mr. 
Lark for the company. Thank heaven," 
stroking her darling's ugly feathers, " I 
have my precious child still with me. 
She is not in a hurry to leave her poor 
mamma, is she?" 
Many sly winks and smiles were ex- 
changed among the matron's friends at 
this remark, for " dearie" had chirped 
that little note many summers and 
winters, and many a snare had mother 
and daughter set to entrap the sons of 
more than one lady sparrow there. 
" My dear," said Mr. Britisher the 
very next morning, " we must begin to 
build a nest and make a home like 
other people. I think we may as well 
begin to-day." 
"Build our nest?" responded Mrs. 
B. "Well, do as you think best, my 
dear. I intend to make a few calls to- 
day, so you may as well employ your 
time whilst I am away. I presume 
some of your folks will help you." 
" I suppose nothing of the sort," re- j 
plied Mr. B., curtly. " Do you think 
you are to do nothing but make calls | 
from morning till night? I chose you i 
for a helpmate, madam, and not a 
figurehead, let me tell you, and the 
sooner you settle down to your duties 
the better it will be for us both." 
" Duties?" retorted Mrs. B., " the 
idea! Who was it that promised me 
that if I would marry him I should not 
have a care in the world?" 
" Oh, all lovers say such things," 
replied Mr. B., with a contemptuous 
laugh. "They expect their lady-loves to 
have better sense than to believe them." 
" Better sense than to believe them!" 
repeated Mrs. B., angrily. "So you 
admit your sex are all gay deceivers, 
do you? Oh, dear," tears coursing 
down her pretty feathered cheeks, 
"that I should be brought to this! Woe 
is me, woe is me!" 
Mr. Britisher immediately flew to 
her side, and by caresses and fond 
words endeavored to tranquillize his 
spouse, for what husband can look upon 
the first tears of his bride and not up- 
braid himself for bringing a cloud over 
the heaven of her smiles? 
Mrs. B. flew and hopped about with 
her wonted gaiety the remainder of the 
day, whilst Mr. B.'s preoccupation and 
downcast air was the cause of much 
comment and many wise " I told you 
so's," among the old lady-birds of the 
neighborhood. 
The subject of nest-building was, of 
course, next day resumed; but Mrs. B. 
proved as indifferent and indisposed to 
participate in the labor as ever. 
"Very well," said Mr. B., at last, 
resolutely disregarding her tears, " you 
will do as other wives do or else return 
to your mother. When a sparrow 
marries he expects his mate to do her 
share in making a home, and rearing a 
family. There is something to do in 
this world, madame, besides rollicking, 
singing, and visiting from post to pil- 
lar. Indeed, it is a wild scramble we 
have to make for a living, and you can 
no longer expect me to be furnishing 
you with tid bits and insects out of sea- 
son, while you gossip and idle your time 
away. You will have to-day to decide 
upon the matter," and off Mr. Britisher 
flew, with a heavy frown upon his face. 
" Oh! I wish I had never been born," 
wailed Mrs. B., as the gentle wind 
stirred the leaves and swayed the 
branch upon which she was perched. 
"Already I begin to experience the 
troubles which old folks talk about. 
Oh, dear! Oh, dear! I'll fly over to 
mother and tell her how shamefully 
Mr. B. is treating me. I won't stand 
it, there! Gracious! there is that med- 
dlesome Mr. Blue Jay sneaking around 
as usual. He has heard me sobbing, 
I'm afraid, and all the neighbors will 
be gossiping before night of our affairs. 
There! how cheerily I sang when I flew 
off! He will think my sobs were a 
new song, perhaps. To think that I 
should be making believe I'm happy 
already. Happy! I shall never be 
happy again. My heart is broken. 
Mother will give Mr. Britisher a piece 
of her mind, I hope, and let him know 
I was never, brought up to work, much 
less to be any man's slave." 
( To be concluded. ) 
152 
