end, if you can coax John and the cook to grant your wish. I can ill bear to see the least piece of food thrown out, which

to keep the life in child or bird.”

may aid

Har-ri-et was quite in haste to do her kind work, and told Fred that the poor birds, for whom he had so well got food, would soon fly off if he did not make haste to feed them, on which he ran to them with the food in his hand.

When first they saw Har-ri-et, the birds flew with hope to get the crumbs which this kind child had at most times to give them, and now they could not think why she should be so long. They hop round the front of the house, chirp and use all their arts to make her think of them; and they were just off for home, when Fred broke a bit from the bread he held in his hand, and tried to throw it to

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them, and at the same time said, Dick, Dick."

When they heard the well-known sounds, the birds drew near. Fred begs Har-ri-et to let him feed all the birds this day, but finds that he could not fling the crumbs as far as the Red-breasts, who, as they were shy, kept far off; so he gave up the task, and Har-ri-et with skill threw some of them from her hand, just to the spot where the pair stood, in the hope they might catch her eye, who with glad hearts took up the part meant for them, and in the mean-time the rest of the birds, when they got all that they came for, flew off, and they were left. Fred, with joy, says that his two new pets are at their food, and Har-ri-et thought she would try to tame them by kind

acts.

"Be sure, dear Fred," said she, "not to fail

to ask cook and John for the crumbs, and do not let the least bit of your food fall to the ground. I will take care of mine, and we will keep all the crumbs that are made when we eat at any time, and if we fail by these means to get all we want, I will spend some of my pence in grain for them."

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Oh!" said Fred, "I would give all the pence I have in the world to buy food for my dear, dear birds."

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Hold, my love," said Mrs. Ben-son; "though I praise your kind words, I would that there are poor boys and girls, as

tell you

well as poor birds."

"Well, dear Ma," said Fred, "I will but buy some coarse grain then.”

As he spoke the last words, the birds, as their meal was done, thought it best to go back to their nest; the hen at once flew off,

the cock first sung a song of sweet thanks to his kind friends, and then he spread his wings and took his flight to the next field, where he had a great hope that worms might be found for his young ones.

CHAP-TER II.

FRED was in great grief that the birds were gone, but Har-ri-et made him glad when she told him that his new pets, since they had found them so kind, might come back the next day. Mrs. Ben-son then bid them shut up the sash, and when she took up Fred in her lap, and told Har-ri-et to sit down by her, spoke these words:

“I am glad, my dears, that you are so kind to the birds, and wish by all means to try and lead you to be so; but I would ask you not to let your hearts feel too much love, while you are kind to them. You must not pass by those who far more have a claim on your love, I mean the poor; keep in mind the ills which they have, and do not waste food, nor give to birds what is meant by God for man."

Har-ri-et said she would mind what her Ma said; but Fred just then saw a large moth which had left its web nest, and shook its wings to try them in the air and sun. This Fred had a wish to catch, but his Ma would not let him try it, for she told him he could not well lay hold of its wings, lest he might hurt it; and it would be much more glad if he let it go free.