"It is well that boys and girls should greet their Pa and Ma each day when they see them; this, Fred, you ought to have done to me when you saw me in the room, and not run on and cried, my birds! my birds!' It would take you but a short time to have done so. Still, I will not blame you for this now, though it was rude, as you did not, I am sure, wish to vex me; but think this, that you have to look to your Pa and me for all you want, just as much as those poor birds do to you; nay, more so, for they could find food on the ground; but the child finds it hard to get food, if some kind hand does not help it. They should then please, and be kind to those, whose care they must at all times have."

Har-ri-et said that she would at all times try to act as her Ma said it was her wish she should do; but, I grieve to say, Fred thought more

how he might raise the sash, than gain by these good words. This he could not do, so Har-ri-et, by the leave of her Ma, went to help him, and the store of food was thrown out.

As some of the birds had nests, they ate their meal as quick as they could, and the Red-breasts did so, and ate theirs as soon as they could too, for the hen had a wish to go back to her young ones, and the cock to get them their first meal; and since he gave his young friends a song ere they left their rooms, he did not think he need stay to sing more, so they flew off.

When the hen comes to the hole in the wall, she stops at the mouth of the nest, and you could hear each throb of her heart; but, when she saw her brood all safe and well, she in haste took them to her wings. As soon as she sat down, she saw that they were not so glad as they used to be.

"What," said she, "can it be that there has been war, while I was out of the nest?"

To this there was none that would say a word, for the truth was that they had been in a state of war the whole time.

"What, does no one speak?" said she; "I fear you have not done as I told you to do, but that there has been strife here. Now, tell me the truth."

Rob, as he knows that he had been the worst, tries to make out a good case first.

"I am sure," said he; "I but gave Dick a small peck since he would crowd me so, and then all the rest join him and fall on me at once."

"Since you speak so, Rob," said Dick, "I must speak too, for you gave me, in truth, a hard peck; and I was in fear you had put out my eye. I am sure I made all the room I could

for you; but you said you ought to have half the nest, and be chief when your Pa and Ma were out, since you were the first of us that was born."

"I do not love to tell tales," said Flaps, "but what Dick says is quite true, Rob; and you took two or three quills out of me, just when I you not to use me ill."

ask

"And you set your foot down on me,” cried Pecks, "when I told you you did not think what your dear Ma had told you."

"This is a sad tale," said the hen; "I grieve to find, Rob, that so young, you show so bad a mind. If you go on so, we shall have no peace in the nest, nor can I leave it, but with dread. As for your words that you are the first that were born, though this fact makes me set you first, when it is right to do so, yet it does not give you the leave to ride rough on

the rest of the birds. You are all in the same

way our care, and this we shall show to all of you the same, if you do not lose it by bad ways. To show you that you are not the chief in the nest, I tell you to get off from my wing and sit on the far side of the nest, while I pet those who are good and do what they told."

are

Rob in great grief went out, on which Dick, with a kind heart, went on to plead for him. "Do not blame Rob more, dear Ma, I ask I wish not to think of what he did to me, you; and would not blame him to you, had there not been need to do so, lest I might seem to have done wrong."

"You are a good bird, Dick," said the hen, "but such a fault as this must be felt for, or I could not let it pass."

At this time her mate comes back with a fine