140 LITTLE FOLKS 
among the omnibusses and wagons of Broadway, picking up food 
from under the feet of the horses, coming down in the depots and 
ferry-houses, to hunt up any stray bit of something to eat, and 
visiting every door-step and back-yard for crumbs. 
They don't care a bit for the country and the woods, not they ; 
they are sociable little fellows, and like to live among men, and all 
they ask is a retired home in some city tree, and plenty of food for 
their babies. Oh yes ! and a morning bath, and I must tell you 
what a gentleman saw one Sunday morning in the City Hall Park. 
He had to go through there quite early in the morning, and he 
saw hundreds of the funny little Sparrow family at their bath. 
That fountain seemed to be one of their regular watering places, 
and was as busy and bustling as Newport or Long Branch. The 
basin was full of water, and the edge was just packed with the little 
bathers, dipping their heads in, fluttering and spattering, and dash- 
ing the water over themselves and their neighbors, and having a 
splendid time generally. 
The gentleman was so much interested in the comical scene 
that he stood and watched them for some time ; and I daresay you 
can see it yourself any time — if you'll only go early enough. 
