THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 ROBINS 5 JSTEST; 
 
 AND 
 
 WHERE DO YOU THINK THEY BUILT IT? 
 
 a Cratfjful Salt. 
 
 BY A CLERGYMAN'S WIFE; 
 
 AUTHORESS OF 
 "INSTRUCTIVE THOUGHTS," (A SERIES OF MUSICAL COMPOSITIONS FOB THE 
 
 YOUNG). 
 "MAY-DAT IN OUR VILLAGE." 
 
 SIXTH THOUSAND. 
 
 LONItON : 
 
 JAMES X1MJKT ,t CO., _'!, ISEKNKUS >rUKI-:T, (LXFOUH STIIEKT.
 
 "PZ6 
 
 Come, chQdren, come to God; 
 
 Cast all your sins away; 
 Seek ye the Saviour's cleansing blood, 
 
 Repent, believe, obey ! 
 
 Say not, ye cannot come; 
 
 For Jesus bled and died, 
 That none who ask in humble faith, 
 
 Should ever be denied. 
 
 Say not, ye will not come, 
 When God vouchsafes to call ; 
 
 For fearful will their end be found, 
 On whom His wrath shall fall 
 
 Come, then, whoever will ; 
 
 Come, while 'tis called to-day; 
 Seek ye the Saviour's cleansing blood, 
 
 Repent, believe, obey! 
 
 737586
 
 y THE ROBINS NEST. 
 
 Perhaps some of my young readers may think me 
 very silly, but I never see a party of boys " out on a 
 nesting expedition," but my heart beats painfully ; and 
 all the talk in the world about "its being no harm," 
 will never convince me, that anything which gives pain 
 to any of God's creatures small or great can be free 
 from " harm " if it is not a sin. Surely " He who 
 feeds the young ravens when they cry," must look 
 with displeasure on a " cry " of pain from the tiniest 
 feathered thing of His creating. 
 
 So many touching anecdotes of the affection and 
 sagacity of these dear little warblers come crowding 
 into my mind, that if I were to indulge myself, I could 
 half fill this book with them ; and then what would 
 my young friends say ? Perhaps some day I may write 
 a child's volume, called "Anecdotes of Birds;" that 
 is, supposing there is not one already written. Why, 
 I believe "stories of canaries," dear, bright-eyed, 
 cunning, teachable, loving canaries, would make a 
 book, a good-sized one too. 
 
 I was staying with a friend once, who had one of 
 these golden pets, which seemed to have. taken a sin-
 
 THE ROBINS' NEST. 8 
 
 gular dislike to the morning reading and family prayers. 
 The moment he saw the blessed Bible placed on the 
 table, though he was quiet enough before, perhaps 
 feeding (for if the truth must be told, he was a bit of 
 a greedy-greedy) perhaps sharpening his fine beak 
 against the lump sugar no matter that moment he 
 would " set up " singing at the top of his voice, to such 
 a pitch, that the wonder was the exquisite machinery 
 of his little throat never split, and so have spoilt all 
 his melody for ever. 
 
 Of course my friend tried to teach him better man- 
 ners ; and before he began to read, a handkerchief was 
 thrown over his cage. But Master Dick had no idea 
 of being silenced without rhyme or reason, as no doubt 
 he considered it ; so down the saucy fellow would hop, 
 and if there was the least space uncovered, through 
 that loop-hole he would pop his bright-eyed head, which 
 he would turn knowingly on one side, and begin 
 chirping like a crazy bird as much as to say, "I am 
 not going to be made hold my tongue, so you needn't 
 try." 
 
 At other times, when there was a loop-hole for him,
 
 4 THE ROBINS NEST. 
 
 he would set to, and peck peck peck till he got his 
 beak through, and then did he not get angry ? I need 
 not tell you that when this part of his mischief was 
 accomplished, he was not long in getting his pert, but 
 handsome head through, and then began the clapper ! 
 
 I seem to have a dim recollection that a cat caught 
 this darling bird, as he was hopping about the carpet, 
 pecking up the crumbs, so happy and so fearlessly ! I 
 don't think I love cats so well as I do dogs, on that 
 account ; though I know they are very useful, when 
 people are " over-run with mice." 
 
 If any of you have a pet canary, or a pet bulfinch, 
 or a tame magpie, my young friends, never trust your 
 cat. Some people will say, when warned on this point, 
 " 0, but my cat never touches the bird, and would not 
 hurt it if she had the opportunity." All nonsense ! 
 Cats are natural enemies to birds ; and because she 
 never has " touched your pet," it is no reason at all why 
 she never should. Just the contrary. So take care of 
 your favourites, dear children, and never trust stealthy, 
 sly, bird-fancying pussy further than you can see her. 
 Do not beat, or illtreat her, though. Recollect it is her
 
 THE ROBINS NEST. 5 
 
 nature to prey on birds, and as you must have your 
 nature changed, before you can " do always that which 
 is good," so must your poor cat, ere she leaves off to 
 catch and eat up birds and canaries. 
 
 But, dear me, I am wandering away from the history 
 of a pair of robins, which I hope to make very interest- 
 ing to my juvenile friends ; so, without further delay, I 
 will begin in those magic words, which have, from 
 time out of date, caused many a gentle heart to go 
 "pit-a-pat," and many a warm imagination to take 
 flight into unheard-of regions, " Once upon a time"
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 ONCE upon a time, many years ago, before any of 
 you, my dear young readers, had seen the glad sun- 
 shine, and the bright green fields, a little Robin Red- 
 breast threw off his shell, and crept feebly out of hia 
 odd little cradle. 
 
 Like poor new babies, when first born, the newly- 
 liberated prisoner, Robin, required a great deal of care 
 and feeding from his watchful mother ; for he seemed 
 inclined to be weakly at first ; but as he grew older, he 
 began to show symptoms of great personal beauty ; 
 his breast was such a magnificent colour, something 
 between a deep gold and a rich crimson ; his eye so 
 dark and brightsome ! his feathers so soft, and brown ! 
 his feet and tail so dainty, that all the bird-gossips 
 about the neighbourhood prophesied that he would be 
 the handsomest redbreast that ever was seen. 
 
 Some went BO far as to say he was '" too beautiful to
 
 THE ROBIK8 NEST. 7 
 
 live." This, however, was great nonsense ; for I never 
 heard of birds, nor people either, dying of beauty, any 
 more than I have of their dying of goodness. When 
 ignorant people say of a tolerably decent behaved baby, 
 "Ah! bless his, or her little heart, she's too good to 
 live," I feel inclined to say, "Nonsense ! Nonsense !" 
 
 But to return to Master Redbreast. I give him this 
 title, because he was the "son and heir" to all he 
 could catch ; for he was not born with a title, neither 
 with a fortune ; he had to win his bread, that is, to 
 keep a sharp look out for every meal, and a good thing 
 too. Lazy birds, like lazy people, are odious crea- 
 tures. 
 
 Well ! as this highly-favoured redbreast was one day 
 tripping, with light step, over the fields, and turning 
 his head from side to side, with a trifle of a consequen- 
 tial air, just as you see some pert young gentlemen 
 do at times, I can fancy that many a feathered belle 
 admiringly turned her eye upon him, and longed for 
 Valentine's day. 
 
 Miss Jenny Wren, standing on tip-toe to gaze after 
 him, exclaimed, with a sigh when she thought "what
 
 8 THE ROBINS' NEST. 
 
 a bit of a thing " she was beside him " what a lovely 
 fellow ! " Miss Water Wagtail would pause, as she 
 sailed gracefully over the low grass, trailing her sleek 
 tail after her, just like a duchess's train " Really he's 
 not a bad looking creature, that Master Redbreast, 
 only he thinks a little too much of his beautiful breast 
 and bright eyes." While many an impudent cock- 
 sparrow, envious of his gay colours, would sneer and 
 chirp out of spite ; and even the tuneful thrush, and 
 melodious blackbird, would whisper to each other, with 
 a self-satisfied, confidential turn of the head, " What's 
 the use of all his good looks and fine figure, when he 
 can't sing a note ; every bird knows that beauty is only 
 skin deep." 
 
 Master Redbreast, however, took no notice of any of 
 these speeches, whether kind or unkind ; he went hop- 
 ping about, picking up the tiny grubs, and, as I before 
 said, turning his handsome head from side to side, as if 
 he were looking for something he had not yet discovered. 
 
 Now, I doubt not, but being a very social bird, he 
 felt lonely; he was tired of having no one to trill his 
 morning and evening song to ; no one to care for, and
 
 THE ROBINS NEST. V 
 
 call his own ; no one to comfort him, when he was 
 tired of hopping about, looking for his supper ; but, 
 above all, no one to help him build the nest he was 
 anxious to have, as soon as the glad spring should 
 come ; and he wisely determined to take to himself a 
 wife. I dare say he quite agreed with the present 
 fashion of early marriages. 
 
 If we may credit Master Redbreast's own account of 
 himself, he was exceedingly particular, and difficult to 
 please ; he prided himself on being descended from a 
 long line of warriors ; certainly, at times he was very 
 quarrelsome and pugnacious, and would have found 
 fault with a straw, if that straw chanced to lay in his 
 way. Perhaps the fact of his feeling so much alone 
 made him testy and cross ; and so he seriously decided 
 on looking about among all the neighbouring Redbreast 
 gentry, who "had unmarried daughters, for a helpmeet, 
 and to settle down quiet and orderly, as the head of 
 a family ought to settle down. 
 
 One day our hero had been flying a long way over 
 gardens, and fields, and barren moors, till at last he 
 arrived at a tall dark wood, and perched down to rest
 
 10 THE ROBINS 1 NEST. 
 
 his weary wing on a hawthorn bough, beneath which a 
 little stream went trickling by, and where, to Master 
 Redbreast's great delight, he could drink, and dress his 
 soft brown feathers, after his fatiguing, dusty journey. 
 
 This little stream, which proved such a source of 
 satisfaction to the tired bird, wandered playfully 
 through beds of reeds and rushes ; while, here and 
 there, rugged stones, and blocks of trees, upon which 
 grew the feathery grass, the tall fern, the slender 
 maiden-hair, and the delicately-tinted lichen, stood in 
 its way, and caused the pure waters to crest and foam, 
 as if they were angry at being resisted. 
 
 On one side, a clump of stately ferns rose up to the 
 river; and in the background a giant oak mingled its 
 dark and varied hues, as the soft breezes of spring 
 gently waved their young and tender branches, or now 
 and then wafted a withered leaf into the pretty rivulet 
 at its feet. 
 
 A few steps to the right, and a few yards down the 
 stream, crossed by a bridge, there stood a small 
 thatched cottage, its walls ready to tumble down with 
 age and neglect. A few broken stones, which once
 
 THE ROBINS' NEST. 11 
 
 served as steps, were still before the door; but they 
 only spoke of danger and risk to any one venturesome 
 enough to " set foot" on them. 
 
 Notwithstanding the desolate aspect of the place, the 
 soft coo, coo, of the pretty wood pigeon, as she sat on a 
 tough bough of the old oak tree, enjoying the sweet 
 perfume of the wild thyme, which was just peeping 
 above the ground, fell on the air. 
 
 Oh ! this world is full of beauty, 
 
 As the starry one above ; 
 And if we but did our duty, 
 
 It would be a world of love ! 
 
 In the midst of all this varied scenery, our friend, 
 Master Redbreast, very unromantically went to sleep ! 
 I don't know if he snored or not, but if he did, he 
 would never " own to it." 
 
 How long his slumbers lasted, or what kind of 
 dreams he had, I do not know ; but all at once he was 
 roused by a pretty chirp and twitter close to his ear ; 
 and opening his bright eye, he saw a sweet little Lady 
 Redbreast, drinking from the clear stream I have just
 
 12 THE BOBINS' NEST. 
 
 mentioned. He watched her for some time ; and the 
 longer he looked, the more he admired her graceful 
 shape and sparkling eye. 
 
 As he gazed, he perceived that the little lady 
 suddenly looked frightened, and uttered a sharp chirp, 
 as a carter's boy came on, smacking his great whip, 
 and whistling loudly, as he led his horses to water; 
 upon which she flew, affrighted, to the refuge of the 
 hawthorn bough, and seemed ready to drop. In all 
 probability she would have done so, had not Master 
 Redbreast gallantly flown to her, and perched himself 
 by her side, as much as to say, " Don't be terrified, 
 dear Httle lady, I will protect you ; " whereupon she 
 chirped a little note of thanks. 
 
 When the horses had splashed about in the water to 
 their hearts' content, they plodded home, and all was 
 quiet once more. A few steady-going cows were com- 
 ing slowly towards the rivulet ; the long branches of 
 the oak drooped almost to the ground. 
 
 The gorgeous streaks of the setting sun were reflected 
 on the still bosom of the stream, and all the symptoms 
 of coming night warned little Lady Redbreast that she
 
 THE ROBINS* NEST. 13 
 
 must betake herself to the thatch of the tumble-down 
 cottage for shelter and repose; she therefore chirped 
 three soft tender chirps, as if to say, " Good-night, my 
 kind protector," and flew towards the thatch. 
 
 The next day our friend found no grubs so fine, no 
 waters so refreshing, no flowers so sweet as those of the 
 little running stream ; and he lingered, and lingered 
 about the place, while, strange to say, the little lady 
 bird did the same ; though she never chirped even one 
 small chirp of encouragement when he looked towards 
 her ; she was a modest, retiring little Miss, and I like 
 her for that. 
 
 On the second day, just as the bright sun began to 
 kiss the dew drops off the wild thyme and the daisies, 
 Master Redbreast summoned up all his courage, and 
 asked the little lady to be his wife. 
 
 She was singing, at that moment, a small plaintive 
 song, at the extreme twig of the hawthorn bough : he 
 told her he was quite sure he could keep her in comfort ; 
 he was active and industrious, in short, one of those 
 early birds who catch the worm. He was a water- 
 drinker too, and so should not waste his time, and his
 
 14 THE ROBINS' NEST. 
 
 health, and his energies, but live comfortably at home 
 with his wife and his children. 
 
 I don't think it would be quite fair to listen to all 
 that passed ; for most likely Master Redbreast felt 
 somewhat awkward and bashful. Not that I ever 
 heard of a bashful Redbreast they are generally bold 
 and brave enough ; but it seems natural he should be 
 a little put out on this novel occasion. 
 
 Then a debate apparently took place, and I suppose 
 there will be no harm if I just fancy what passed be- 
 tween them ! " And where shall we make our nest, 
 sweet love ?" gently asks the bridegroom elect ; and as 
 his little bride, that was to be, did not reply, he con- 
 tinued, in a hurried manner, " not by the stream, for 
 there the rude carter-boy frightened you and not in 
 the old barn yonder, for I saw a large white cat stand 
 looking up at you last evening and not too near the 
 road, or cruel heartless boys " 
 
 Just at this point of his discourse, Master Redbreast 
 was very unceremoniously interrupted by the notes of 
 silvery bells, which pealed from the tower of a beauti- 
 ful old church, not far from where they were perched.
 
 THE KOBINS' NEST. 15 
 
 Very pleasant and merrily sounded those notes in 
 the distance. I shouldn't wonder if Redbreast thought 
 something about wedding bells ! By and bye, a group 
 of children, with books in their hands, and others with 
 bags slung over their shoulders, went running joyously 
 past them. 
 
 They were nice-looking, clean, fair-haired young- 
 sters ; and two of them, who were lagging a short 
 distance behind the rest, caught sight of our dear lit- 
 tle Redbreasts. " Oh, look ! oh look at those pretty 
 robins, Jane ! " "I wish they would go with us," 
 exclaimed little Annie Johnston. " Come on, and get 
 your ticket like a good girl," replied careful Jane. 
 Annie looked wistfully at the robins, and called out, 
 "Bobby! Bobby! pretty Bobby !" whereupon " Bobby " 
 chirped, and Annie chirped too, in imitation of " Bobby." 
 
 Then " Bobby" looked kindly at his little wife, and 
 she seemed to understand his looks ; for they both 
 immediately flew a few steps in advance, which so 
 delighted Annie, that she trotted on by her sister's 
 side, until, coming to the village, the pretty Bobbies 
 both flew away, and alighted on the bough of the old
 
 16 THE ROBINS' NEST. 
 
 yew-tree, which grew among the joints of the stone- 
 work of the church tower in a very remarkable manner. 
 
 It was, and always had been, a source of great 
 " wonderment " among the good people of the village 
 how this yew tree ever came into such an exalted 
 position. Most probably some little bird, long, long 
 ago, dropped a seed from his mouth, as he flew over 
 the place, and so it took root, and sprang up. 
 
 For my own part, I never could look at the famous 
 old tree, but it reminded me of the " seed " of God's 
 blessed Word, which the loving Saviour spoke about 
 BO often. 
 
 Can any of my little readers get the Bible, and find 
 out the passage ? It will well repay them for the time 
 they spare. 
 
 Well ! only fancy, the bough I have been telling, you 
 about is growing out of the dear old church tower at 
 this very day, and is a fine sheltered refuge for the 
 little feathered tribes in the summer from the heat, and 
 in winter from the cold ; and, behold ! on one of the 
 prettiest sprays, close together are perched Mr. and 
 Mrs. Redbreast, the newly-married pair. They were
 
 THE ROBINS' NEST. 17 
 
 Mrs. Redbreast, the newly married pair, they are 
 looking down at the village children as they passed 
 merrily on, singing and laughing in the innocent 
 gaiety of their sorrowless hearts. 
 
 The day after is the quiet Sabbath ; and our little 
 friends watch the congregation, as, one after another, 
 they arrive. They recognise, too, many of the merry 
 children they saw the day before at their games ; but 
 now they are very steady and subdued. 
 
 By and by, the strains of the old church organ 
 pealed solemnly over the bright air, and then young 
 voices helped to swell the song of praise ascending to 
 the gi-acious and merciful God, who clothes the earth 
 in its beauty and fertility, and who cares alike for all. 
 
 After the people were gone out of church, our dear 
 robins flew to an adjoining garden. How peaceful and 
 quiet it all was ! The shrubs so green ! The ivy so 
 fresh ! Opposite to where they perched, there was a 
 window filled with dear prattling children, who were 
 amusing themselves by pointing to the brilliant and 
 many-coloured flowers which grew in abundance before 
 them.
 
 18 THE ROBINS' NEST. 
 
 By and bye, their quick, bright eyes" lighted on Mr. 
 and Mrs. Robin, and immediately they began to call 
 "Bobby! Bobby!" while one darling child ran into 
 the kitchen, and brought back a quantity of crumbs, 
 evidently " saved up " for feeding birds, and scattered 
 them coaxingly towards our hero and heroine. I 
 scarcely need tell you that they required no second 
 invitation ; down they flew, confiding in the gentle 
 children perched close to the window, and made a 
 most substantial and delicious repast. 
 
 After they had dined, they hopped about, and sang 
 some soft little notes, just as if to say, " Thank you ! 
 thank you ! sweet little ones, for taking thought of us ! 
 Thank you ! thank you ! gentle children ; much we love 
 you all." 
 
 As the shades of evening began to cast the old 
 church tower into a solemn gloom, the loving pair 
 crept into some thick, dark ivy, which grew round the 
 nursery window at the rectory, and there they slept 
 snugly and safely. 
 
 On the following morning, seeing the church doors 
 open, they flew inside. All was hushed and still. 
 First, they perched on the curious old stone font ; then
 
 THE ROBINS' NEST. 19 
 
 they flew a little further up the aisle, and lighted on an 
 old lady's large brass-clasped prayer-book ; and finally, 
 they both hopped into the reading desk, and there 
 nestled close together in the scarlet cloth that covered 
 it. Long time they remained in this spot, laying their 
 little heads together, and twittering, just as if they 
 were holding a conversation on some very important 
 subject. 
 
 A celebrated French philosopher once gave his 
 opinion, that birds really had a language of their own ; 
 and I don't see any reason why this may not be the 
 case ; at any rate, there is no harm in my just fancy- 
 ing the discourse that took place between them on the 
 present occasion. 
 
 Nestling close to her dear husband, little Mrs, Red- 
 breast thus exclaims, " Oh, my own dear Robin, what 
 a quiet, lovely spot this is ! I seem to have no fear of 
 anything here. I should like to live in this fine large 
 house with you for ever ; I should never care to go any- 
 where else." 
 
 " It is a beautiful house indeed, my darling ; and 
 where could we find a spot more safe to build our nest,
 
 20 THE KOBINS' KEST. 
 
 and rear our little ones ? " replied Robin ; and he looked 
 proudly and fondly at his own dear wee wife. 
 
 "And we are close to the house where those tender- 
 hearted children live," continued Mrs. Robin; "and 
 they will never be cruel to us, and steal our eggs, or 
 rob us of our young ones ;" and here she gave a shudder, 
 as if she had seen unfeeling, hard-hearted, monster boys 
 torture the little half-fledged chirping nestlings for 
 their amusement, as I have often seen them. 
 
 Robin pi-essed his wing close to her side, as he re- 
 plied, "I am sure those children wih 1 never frighten 
 you ! Did you see their bright eyes dance and glisten, 
 as they threw us out those delicious crumbs? And 
 what curly heads two of them have ! I quite love them 
 already, and hope we shall often see them in this 
 beautiful house. Suppose we hop all about everywhere, 
 and see if we can find a spot for our nest," continued 
 Robin, after a pause. 
 
 To this very wise suggestion the wee wife consented ; 
 and away they flew to the organ loft. Neither of them 
 fancied this exalted position, so they flew and perched 
 on an old hatchment, which had been hanging in the
 
 TETE ROBINS* NEST. 21 
 
 church for many long years. This spot did not seem 
 to suit, and they flew down on the floor, and hopped 
 ahout for nearly an hour, as if looking for what they 
 could not find. 
 
 At length they alighted on the communion tahle, and 
 here they remained for a considerable time ; but Mrs. 
 Robin could not help casting sundry longing glances 
 back to the reading desk, which Robin perceiving, he 
 proposed that they should return thither ; to which she 
 joyfully assented, and back they flew, both agreeing 
 that " no spot on earth could be better for their nest." 
 
 On the desk there lay the large well-worn Bible, 
 out of whose sacred pages many a word of hope, and 
 peace, and comfort had fallen on world-weary hearts. 
 Its polished massive clasps were lightly closed, and a 
 space left between its leaves and the side of the desk. 
 
 Into this cunning little nook they stole, and there 
 they built their nest ! Oh ! how busily they set to 
 work. First a bit of matting from the churchwarden's 
 pew ; then a fragment of wool which they picked off 
 the end of an ancient piece of carpet in old Dame 
 Glaze's " seat ;" then a thread off the hassock in the 
 desk itself!
 
 29 THE KOBINS' NEST. 
 
 All at once they flew out of a window which was left 
 open, and came to an old moat close by. Here they 
 picked up a number of soft brown leaves to line their 
 nest, and make it comfortable for their precious nest- 
 lings. 
 
 While they were "stopping to rest," after having 
 flown, laden with leaves, several times back to their 
 nest, they were attracted by a great many guinea fowls, 
 and other poultry, that had wandered away from the 
 old manor house, and were enjoying their feathering 
 on the banks of the somewhat muddy moat. 
 
 Oh ! what treasures, and treasures they found ! 
 Hair of all lengths and colour, which fell from the 
 sleek black cow and her companions, Cherry, Daisy, 
 Buttercup, and Strawberry, as they cooled themselves 
 beside the moat, with the old cart horses, Smiler, 
 Boxer, Dobbin, and Leader ; and how they collected 
 and carried them home to their nest ! 
 
 Thus cleverly, and delightfully, the happy birds set 
 to work, and who so proud as they ? 
 
 By and bye, the dinner bell at the rectory began to 
 ring, and Robin remarked to his wife, "I think that
 
 THE KOBINS NEST. 23 
 
 bell seems to say, ' Come, Robins, come !' " whereupon 
 his wife quite agreed with him, as all good wives 
 should, when their husbands make sensible remarks; 
 so away they flew down the gravel walk of the old 
 churchyard, over the green shrubs, and at once perched 
 boldly, as only redbreasts can, on the sill of the nursery 
 window. 
 
 Here a hearty welcome awaited them. The moment 
 the dear little rectory children had finished their din- 
 ners, they scattered all along the sill quantities of cake 
 crumbs, from which Bobbies made a most refreshing 
 meal, and again flew back to their work. As nothing 
 occurred to disturb their proceedings, their nest was 
 soon completed. 
 
 On the following Sabbath, when the good rector 
 went into the church, as was his custom, some time 
 before the hour at which divine service commenced, 
 he entered the desk, and having reverently placed his 
 hand on the Bible, what was his amazement to find, 
 close to his fingers, a beautiful nest, and a dear little 
 robin peeping at him with her bright, sparkling bead- 
 like eyes!
 
 24 THE ROBINS' NEST. 
 
 Only fancy, my dear young readers, the surprise of 
 the good clergyman ! Nor was his surprise at all 
 lessened by the fact that the bird sat quietly on her 
 nest, never attempting to fly away, just as much as to 
 say, "Ah ! my good friend, I am not afraid of you. I 
 can see something in your kind face that reminds me 
 of those darling little curly-headed children at the rec- 
 tory, and what have I to fear ?" 
 
 The rector had scarcely recovered from his first 
 amazement, when a few notes, very sweet and very 
 soft, caught his ear ; and looking up in the direction 
 from whence they came, he saw Master Eobin perched 
 on one of the gilt pipes of the organ, chanting, as it 
 seemed to him, a morning hymn of praise. 
 
 Deeply touched, not only by the song of the little 
 warbler, but by the quiet watching of his little wife, 
 the beautiful verse from the eighty-fourth Psalm came 
 involuntarily into the rector's thoughts, " Yea, the 
 sparrow hath found an home, and the swallow a nest 
 for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine 
 altar, Lord of hosts, my King and my God ! " 
 
 He walked softly out of the desk, and remarked to
 
 THE KOBIKS' NEST. 25 
 
 the aged man, the parish clerk, \vho came up at that 
 moment, " George, you must not on any account go 
 into the reading desk this morning to find out the 
 lessons;" and he then told him about the little nest, 
 and his own earnest wish that it should not he dis- 
 covered, or the bird molested. 
 
 Always after this, the clergyman brought his own 
 Bible, and read the lessons from it, so that she should 
 not be disturbed, and he also took a white silk hand- 
 kerchief, and threw it over the end of the large book, 
 thus protecting his little favourite during the time of 
 divine service ; and truly she seemed as if nothing 
 earthly could scare or frighten her: she felt she was 
 under the eye of a friend. 
 
 Time passed on. One little speckled egg appeared, 
 then another, and another, until four icee beauties were 
 laid in the nest. And was not Mr. Robin a proud 
 bird now, and was not Mrs. Robin as happy as the days 
 were long, while they gazed tenderly on their trea- 
 sures, and thought on the time when, from these 
 speckled dots, would come forth their longed-for little
 
 26 THE ROBINS' NEST. 
 
 Day by day, all the wants of the parent birds were 
 carefully supplied by their kind friends ; the faithful 
 wife seldom leaving her eggs, lest they should become 
 cold, and her young ones die in their shells. 
 
 Kobin was equally anxious about them, and for the 
 health of his wife. He was most attentive in waiting 
 upon her, constantly bringing her tit-bits from the rec- 
 tory, and all the greenest grass he could pick up ; and 
 when she was thirsty he would take her place, and 
 keep the eggs warm, while she went out to the edge of 
 the moat, and drank to quench her thirst. 
 
 Then he would enliven her with many a merry ditty 
 and lively song, and while away the long hours by 
 planning their future life, what they would do, and 
 where they would go ; how they would bring up their 
 children, and try to make them good, obedient, gentle, 
 loving. Evidently Robin thought it much better to be 
 useful, in however humble a way, than living in idle- 
 ness and luxury. 
 
 The peacock is a handsome bird enough, but I really 
 think the little robin redbreast is a greater favourite. 
 I remember, when a child, learning some verses, com- 
 mencing
 
 THE ROBINS' NEST. 97 
 
 Little bird, with bosom red, 
 Welcome to our humble shed ; 
 Daily round rny table steal, 
 While I eat my scanty meal ; 
 Doubt not, little though there be, 
 But I'll find a crumb for thee. 
 
 I recollect too, a lady telling me a very interesting 
 little incident, which occurred in her own house, show- 
 ing the love and wondrous sagacity of these dear birds. 
 Returning from a walk one morning, my friend found 
 a poor little nestling redbreast, which had either been 
 ducked in the water by cruel boys, or had fallen into a 
 pool, for it was wet and miserable. So she took it 
 tenderly up in her warm hand, carried it home, put it 
 into a small basket, and laid it down in the sunshine, 
 which shone brightly on the carpet. 
 
 In a few moments, two redbreasts flew into the room 
 and perched on the rim of the basket ; after watching 
 a short time, they flew out of the room and returned 
 again, each bearing in its mouth food for the little suf- 
 ferer; they stayed some time looking down upon it, 
 and then flew away again.
 
 28 THE ROBINS' NEST. 
 
 The next morning they came again, each carrying a 
 worm, which they dropped into the basket, and re- 
 mained a longer time. When they returned in the 
 evening their nestling was dead ; and they flew away 
 instantly, and never returned again. Evidently they 
 knew it was dead. How ? 
 
 But, dear me ! dear me ! I have wandered away 
 from Mr. and Mrs. Robin ! Pray forgive me, dear 
 child, and I'll try not to offend in the same way again.
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 " He prayeth best, who loveth best 
 Both man, and bird, and beast ; 
 For the dear God, who loveth us, 
 He made and loveth all." 
 
 I MUST now return for a moment to the old church, 
 shaded with its dark yew tree, looking so solemn and 
 picturesque ; the hedges round about are cut in the 
 old-fashioned style very stiff and stupid I think 
 shaped into such curious devices. In the said dear 
 old church there sat Mrs. Robin on her throne, from 
 whence she could see the little pathway through the 
 churchyard. And that was, indeed, a sight to make 
 one pause and think. 
 
 Oh ! how many graves were scattered around, tiny, 
 very tiny ones, -with their " daisy quilt ;" the gentle 
 flower reminding the beholder that the tender babe 
 had left the cold world to bloom in everlasting sun-
 
 30 THE ROBINS' NEST. 
 
 shine. There was one spot that I always lingered 
 near. It seemed to speak to me 
 
 " It died ! for Adam sinned ; 
 It lives, for Jesus died !" 
 
 I would always fancy the darling babe safely nestled 
 in the bosom of the Good Shepherd, "who laid down 
 his life for his sheep." 
 
 There were other graves, but I must not stay longer 
 to tell of them, but just remark, that as our friend 
 Mrs. Robin sat in the desk, she could see numbers 
 of the villagers pass and re-pass; and now and then 
 she could catch a few words of their conversation. 
 
 Some would be talking of the weather and the 
 crops ; others, about the last " news " in the village ; 
 and a few would speak of the goodness of God, in 
 clothing the earth with so much beauty and richness. 
 Pity this subject is not more the theme of discourse ! 
 
 As I was saying, there sat faithful, patient little 
 Mrs. Robin ; and at length all her watchful care was 
 rewarded ; all her anxieties were at an end. First 
 one, then another, and then a third, and a fourth little
 
 THE EOBINS" NEST. 31 
 
 bird cracks its shell, and out pops its naked wee head ; 
 and they were soon, one after another, sheltered under 
 her warm wing, and with a low sleepy chirp, which 
 filled her heart with joy and gladness, they soon closed 
 their tender eyes, and went off into a sweet slumber ; 
 while Mr. Kobin, perched on the pulpit above their 
 heads, sings his grandest song in honour of the auspi- 
 cious event. 
 
 Soon came the important question, " What are their 
 names to be ?" The eldest was called " Bobby," being 
 an old family name ; the second " Whistle," because, 
 like many other fond mothers, Mrs. Robin thought her 
 son had a very superior voice ; then the oldest daugh- 
 ter was called "Miss Chirp," and the youngest, being 
 somewhat delicate, " Weeney." 
 
 A busy time now began for the youthful father and 
 mother. Their young ones were hungry little birds, 
 who never seemed satisfied. Their yellow beaks were 
 always wide open, except when they were asleep ; and 
 there was a great demand for spiders and flies, on the 
 part of Mr. Robin. 
 
 High living, and no exercise or care, soon made
 
 32 THE ROBINS' NEST. 
 
 them grow strong and hearty. Master Bobby was the 
 flower of the flock, as regards his personal appear- 
 ance, but he was by no means the best behaved. He 
 was proud of being the eldest, and soon began to 
 show unamiable, quarrelsome propensities, which gave 
 his parents great uneasiness. 
 
 While his mother was at home, he was obliged to 
 content himself with only a sly push, or a secret peck 
 at poor little Weeney, of whom he was jealous, because, 
 being delicate, she sometimes got an extra grub, or a 
 few more crumbs ; but as soon as his mother's back 
 was turned, and she accompanied their father in search 
 of food, which search was falling too heavily on 
 him goodness ! what a dust Master Bobby would 
 kick up ! 
 
 The nest seemed too small for his grandeur, and he 
 would push, and push, and push, till he had pushed 
 the others to the edge of the nest ; and then he would 
 peck to the right and left like a feathered Nero. A 
 pity he never learnt that nice little verse of good Dr. 
 Watts, commencing 
 
 "Birds in their little nests agree "
 
 THE ROBINS' NEST. 33 
 
 I dare say you know the hymn, my dear young reader. 
 It is generally among the first pieces children learn, 
 and there are few prettier or. wiser. 
 
 One day Robin came home very tired indeed. There 
 had been a scarcity of flies and other dainties, on ac- 
 count of a long drought ; and the next morning, like a 
 dutiful, affectionate wife, Mrs. Robin determined to 
 leave him at home to take care of the young ones, 
 while she went in search of supplies. 
 
 Robin very reluctantly consented to this, but, over- 
 persuaded by her he loved so well, he yielded the point, 
 and allowed her to go. 
 
 Before she left the nest, however, she gave all her 
 children a kind motherly word of admonition. I can 
 fancy I hear her saying, " Bobby, you are the eldest, 
 and should be kind and good-natured to your young 
 brothers and sisters, who naturally look up to you for 
 an example. Never be selfish, wanting the softest 
 place in the nest, and the nicest piece to eat, which of 
 course leads to wrangling and quarrelling. Above all, 
 my dear boy, Bobby, always be kind to poor sister
 
 34 THE HOBINS' NEST. 
 
 Weeney ; she's not strong, and I am afraid I shall 
 have trouble in bringing her up." 
 
 While she is making these kind remarks, her young 
 ones are touched, and promise to attend to everything 
 she wishes ; they think her the best of mothers, and 
 when she left them, and flew away out of sight, they 
 nestled close together, and seemed very happy and 
 peaceably inclined. 
 
 This state of things lasted only a short time. Mas- 
 ter Bobby got tired of being good. He said he was 
 hungry and chilly, so he began flapping his downy 
 wings, as if that would be of any use ! Then he 
 opened his beak very wide, and stretched his legs so 
 rudely, that they almost pushed Weeney out of the 
 nest. 
 
 Chirp had been quietly reposing, but the plaintive 
 voice of her poor little sister roused her, and she 
 opened her eyes and looked very frightened. Just 
 then, another and harder kick threw her on the ex- 
 treme edge of the nest ; and had not Whistle pushed 
 her back with his wing, she would have fallen on the 
 cold stones of the floor, and most likely broken one
 
 THE ROBINS* NEST. 35 
 
 of her limbs, if it had not killed her outright. Now 
 began a terrible uproar. 
 
 I ought to have remarked, in order to explain their 
 being left alone, that when Mrs. Robin got out into the 
 lovely air, she flew away further than she intended : 
 thinking, kind creature that she was, " what a nice 
 rest Robin would have." 
 
 As, therefore, she did not return at the very moment 
 he expected her, he began to get fidgetty and uneasy : 
 while sundry remembrances of carters' horses, cruel 
 cats, and still crueller boys, came thronging upon him ; 
 so away he flew in search of his darling wife ; which 
 explains the children being left alone, as I before 
 remarked. 
 
 Now, I repeat, began a sad uproar. Whistle gave an 
 angry peck at Bobby for his unkindness to Weeney 
 and Bobby being much the stronger of the two, 
 pecked him in return, till he cried out. Chirp set 
 up a loud call for her mother, and poor Weeney sobbed 
 piteously, as the fighting and noise went on. 
 
 To such a pitch had this uproar proceeded, that 
 they neither of them heard the approach of their father ;
 
 36 THE KOBIN8 NEST. 
 
 and you may well fancy, my dear little readers, how 
 grieved and surprised he was; so much so, indeed, 
 that he let fall a most dainty mouthful he had brought 
 to divide among them, hopped hastily into the nest, 
 and demanded the cause of such a riot. 
 
 With ruffled feathers and angry eye, Master Bobby 
 attempted to make his " own story good ;" but he fal- 
 tered and stammered so much, that his father easily 
 saw that he was at his old work again, and severely 
 reprimanded him for his conduct. 
 
 " Oh, Bobby," I can fancy I hear him say, " Oh, 
 Bobby ! how can you be so unkind to your little brother 
 and sisters, who love you, and never would say a word 
 to you, if you did not begin at them ? And how came 
 you to be so ungrateful to your dear mother, who 
 watched over you with such care and tenderness? 
 Your behaviour will break her heart, as it almost does 
 mine ;" and here the distressed father sighed, and a 
 tear stood in his bright eye. 
 
 The conduct of this refractory bird should be a 
 warning to my little readers, if they ever indulge in 
 selfishness towards their brothers and sisters, or dis- 
 obey, and thus vex and grieve their dear parents.
 
 THE ROBINS' NEST. 37 
 
 Ask yourself, now, dear child, " Have I not often 
 given way to angry words and feelings ? Have I not 
 often coveted either my schoolfellows' place, or some- 
 thing they had which I had not, and given cross, 
 envious looks? Have I not sometimes been tempted 
 to tell a falsehood forgetting that the eye of the Great 
 God was upon me, and His ear open to all I say? 
 Then, too, have I not forgotten the words of the loving 
 Saviour, who says to little children, as well as to 
 grown-up people, " Learn of me, for I am meek and 
 lowly in heart." 
 
 Oh ! my child, never give way to angry words, and 
 evil tempers ; for when you do, you grieve this kind 
 and loving Saviour, who cares for you, and gave His 
 precious life to save you from "going down to the pit." 
 
 In returning to our friends, the robins, I would ob- 
 serve, that you may be sure when their mother came 
 home, she, too, was greatly pained; and to punish 
 Bobby for his bad conduct, she put him as far as she 
 possibly could from her, and kept him without his sup- 
 per ; so he was obliged to lie hungry and cold all the 
 night.
 
 38 THE ROBINS' NEST. 
 
 This wholesome reproof did him good for a day or 
 two ; he did not very well like being kept without food, 
 and put out at the edge of the nest all night ; but alas ! 
 he was such a naughty bird in his heart, that he 
 secretly determined, as soon as he was old enough, to 
 run away from the nest, and go where he liked, and do 
 just as he pleased. We shall see the result of this 
 self-will and disobedience. 
 
 One morning, about ten days after the quarrel just 
 recorded and a lovely morning it was the sun, glit- 
 tered on the old church clock, shed its bright beams 
 through the chancel window, and little threads of light 
 sparkled through the great key-holes of the knotted 
 doors like diamonds. 
 
 All looked so bright, so warm, that Mr. Robin pro- 
 posed to indulge the children by taking them a hop 
 round the church. To this Mrs. Robin readily con- 
 sented, and in a few moments out bustled Bobby, glad 
 to escape from the nest. 
 
 Out stepped Whistle, cheerful as a cricket, and Chirp 
 had just got on the edge of the nest, when she saw 
 that her little sister, Weeney, was not strong enough
 
 THE KOBINS' NEST. 39. 
 
 to accompany her; so she called to her mother, and 
 asked if she might " stay with poor dear sister Weeney, 
 as she would be so very dull at home alone." 
 
 Very glad indeed was little Weeney to hear this 
 request. How dearly she loved her kind, unselfish 
 sister ! How closely she nestled up to her, and put 
 her little beak up to be kissed ! 
 
 The day certainly did seem long, and sometimes 
 kind Chirp could not help thinking of the pleasure 
 her brothers were having ; but she would not allow 
 these thoughts to get the better of her ; she checked 
 them at once. 
 
 On Mrs. Robin's return, she brought them one of 
 the nicest dinners ever little birds could have had ; 
 and they both enjoyed it amazingly, especially Chirp, 
 who had the approval of her own conscience ; and this 
 heightens all pleasures, or, rather, there can be no real 
 pleasure without it. 
 
 She felt she had done right, and when she put her 
 head under her wing, and went to sleep that night, a 
 happy bird was she, and pleasant were her dreams 
 about Weeney, whom she fancied strong and well;
 
 40 THE ROBINS' NEST. 
 
 hopping by her side, and singing as loud and cheerful 
 as the best of them. Kind, dear Chirp ! 
 
 My little reader, is this your constant practice ? 
 Are you willing to give up your own wishes, to please 
 a sick sister, or a delicate brother ? Never forget, that 
 in doing good to others, you insure happiness on your- 
 self. Not that you should do good for the sake of this, 
 but it is the natural result. 
 
 Nothing remarkable occurred to Bobby, or Whistle on 
 the first day of their leaving their nest. The presence 
 of their father acted as a check on the former, and he 
 dared not show off his quarrelsome propensities ; so he 
 contented himself with devouring every fly and moth 
 within his reach ; while his brother kindly put several 
 dainty tit-bits aside, intending to carry them home to 
 his sisters ; but greedy Bobby soon caught sight of 
 them, and gobbled them up in no time. This greedi- 
 ness so displeased his father, that he would not give 
 him any instruction in the art of carrying grubs or 
 flies in his beak to a distance; while he gratified 
 Whistle, by not only showing him how to do so, but 
 also let him take one home to Weeney, which highly
 
 THE EOBINS' NEST. 41 
 
 delighted his generous nature. There was not a trace 
 of greediness in his character. Can you say the same, 
 dear little reader ? 
 
 Time passed away, and the young family of the 
 Robins were getting quite strong ; they could hop 
 almost " like papa." It was Whistle's great ambition 
 to resemble his kind, good father. They could also 
 use their wings fearlessly, and their tail feathers were 
 growing famously. These circumstances, added to the 
 fact of their finding the nest too small, now their 
 young ones were rapidly growing bigger, induced Mr. 
 and Mrs. Robin to decide on removing to more exten- 
 sive quarters. 
 
 They were all delighted with a prospect of change : 
 Bobby, because he would be more at liberty to do as he 
 pleased, and Whistle, because he began to grow very 
 proud of his voice ; while the Misses Chirp and 
 Weeney, had a little lingering to see the Avorld, of 
 which they had got some idea, from hearing their 
 brothers talking over what they had seen. 
 
 One evening Mrs. Robin was a great deal behind 
 her usual time of returning ; and naturally they all
 
 42 THE EOBINS' NEST. 
 
 began to get very uneasy, especially Robin himself, 
 whose affection for his wife seemed to " grow with his 
 growth ;" and he was just on the point of flying off to 
 seek for her, when in she flew very fast, and appa- 
 rently agitated. After pausing to take breath, she in- 
 formed them that she had been detained at the rectory 
 by the only enemy she had there, in the shape of the 
 children's pet cat ! 
 
 Begging Mrs. Robin's pardon for interrupting her, 
 I must first say a word or two about this said cat ; for 
 she seems to understand all about her; my little 
 readers do not. So I will just say that " Dora " was 
 a general favourite all over the house, not only for her 
 fine sleek tortoise-shell coat, and magnificent tail, but 
 because she was known as a well behaved cat, with 
 the exception of her being over fond of poor little spar- 
 rows and robins. Very tame and affectionate too was 
 this Dora ; she followed the family about like a little 
 dog, and would sit on her kind master's shoulder, 
 while he read the newspaper after breakfast ; and 
 sometimes if he read longer than usual, in order to 
 attract his attention, she would give him sundry little
 
 THE ROBINS' NEST. 43 
 
 pats, and place her paw on the paper, as much as to 
 say, " Please leave off reading, dear master, and let me 
 have a walk in the garden. " 
 
 I am afraid to speak the truth that Dora was a 
 spoilt, indulged cat; and like most spoilt creatures, 
 children and all, she was apt to be a wee bit disagree- 
 able ; not that she herself was aware of it, and I verily 
 believe that the dear Robins need not have been at all 
 frightened about her. She was too happy, too well 
 cared for to mind them just then, not having kittens 
 to give the young ones to, to amuse them. 
 
 With all Dora's agreeable ways (and the darling rec- 
 tory children thought there never was such a cat as 
 theirs) she had one trick, which had grown into an 
 incorrigible habit from indulgence. She could never 
 pass the dairy door without looking in ; and frequently 
 she did more than look in, if the state of her whiskers, 
 and the wiping of her lips with her paws might be 
 taken as an evidence against her. 
 
 But I have wandered unpardonably away from dear 
 Mrs. Robin. By way of rewarding her, I will let her 
 tell her own story : " Well, my dears," she continued,
 
 44 THE ROBINS' NEST. 
 
 " I thought that when I was out, I might just as well 
 pay a little visit to the cook at the rectory, who was 
 always so good-natured, and not cross, as cooks gene- 
 rally are. You recollect, Robin, dear, how handsomely 
 she used to treat us ? Well, as I was saying, I just 
 hopped upon, and sat on the scullery window ; when, 
 all of a sudden, I heard such a splashing, and mewing ! 
 it made me shake and tremble all over like an aspen 
 leaf ; for I expected every moment to be eaten up alive. 
 Good-natured cook ran as fast as she could towards 
 the dairy ; no doubt she was accustomed to such 
 sounds ; and at that very moment her mistress hap- 
 pened to be passing, and she ran in too. Then I took 
 courage and flew down to see what was the matter. 
 Oh ! what a sight met my eye ! There, in the large 
 round cream pan, nearly full of thick rich cream for 
 it was churning day there, kicking, and struggling, 
 and mewing there, quite a pitiable spectacle to be- 
 hold lay our only rectory enemy, Madam Dora f 
 
 With difficulty the selfish creature was lifted out; her 
 fine fur coat, which she is so proud of, sticking closely 
 to her skin ; her grand tail all heavy with the cream :
 
 THE ROBINS' NEST. 45 
 
 her eyes shut, and her whole figure looking as misera- 
 ble and ridiculous as you can imagine. Notwithstand- 
 ing her bad behaviour, I saw her kind mistress wipe 
 off the cream from her coat, wrap her up in a warm 
 shawl, until she could obtain some hot water ; and then 
 she washed her carefully, and laid her in a warm box, 
 and told her to " go to sleep like a good cat." But 
 depend upon it, my dear Robin," she continued, 
 turning to her husband, "the greedy creature has 
 taken a violent cold, and wont be out again for one 
 while ; so we will avail ourselves of her absence, and 
 take out our children to-morrow." 
 
 After a remark or two from Mr. Robin, expressive 
 of his admiration at the discernment and good sense of 
 his little wife, Mrs. Robin turned to Bobby, and in a 
 gentle, affectionate tone, thus addressed him: "Ah, 
 my dear boy, let the misfortune that has thus fallen on 
 this greedy Dora be a warning to you. Self-will, and 
 disobedience always bring disgrace of some kind. 
 Now, for a long time, the cat's fur will smell very 
 badly from the cream ; and she will be shut out of her 
 nice snug quarters on the drawing-room rug. As to
 
 46 THE ROBINS' NEST. 
 
 the nursery, I am pretty sure that Mrs. Nurse wont 
 allow those dear, clean little childi'en to have anything 
 to do with her, the nasty creamy thing! Had she heen 
 contented with her usual good fare, this sad misfortune 
 would never have happened to her. Therefore remem- 
 ber, my dear children, that moderation has its own 
 reward, and that intemperance ever brings its own 
 punishment." 
 
 Scarcely had Mrs. Robin finished her excellent ad- 
 vice, and her young ones were busy in talking over 
 what she had said, when a tremendous noise was 
 heard shuffling and scuffling of feet and then such 
 a loud blow ! they thought surely the windows were 
 coming in ; but nothing of the kind. It was only Dick 
 Wilful and Harry Mischief going home from school, 
 quarrelling and throwing stones, as they usually did, 
 when one unlucky stone went the wrong way, and shot 
 through a window of the church, close by poor Robin's 
 nest. Then the mischievous young monkeys, on see- 
 ing the damage they had done, took to their heels, and 
 ran towards home as fast as they could, hoping and 
 believing that no one had seen them. They then be-
 
 THE ROBINS' NEST. 47 
 
 came good friends, and resolved to say nothing about 
 the hroken window. 
 
 When these bad boys laid down their heads to sleep 
 that night, they neither of them thought or cared any- 
 thing about having disobeyed their schoolmaster's com- 
 mands, "never to play in the churchyard, nor to throw 
 stones at all." They did not imagine that any one saw 
 them. To escape punishment was the only thing they 
 cared for. " Ah ! " thought they, " we shall not be 
 found out ; nobody saw us throw the stones, and what 
 do we care if they did ? " Wicked boys ! they had 
 often been taught at the Sunday School, that they 
 could never, never escape the eye of God; that His 
 Almighty eye 
 
 " Strikes through the shades of night ; 
 And our most secret actions lie 
 All open to His sight." 
 
 But they were seen of man also, though they little 
 thought so. The schoolmaster was walking in a neigh- 
 bour's garden close by, and saw them throw, and heard 
 the crash of the breaking window.
 
 48 THE ROBINS' NEST. 
 
 The next morning they marched boldly into the 
 school-room, and began to prepare their books. All 
 seemed to be going on well for a time. By and bye, 
 the boys were about to be dismissed, when Dick whis- 
 pered to Harry, " We're safe enough now, Harry !" 
 But not so fast. Wait a moment, and you will see. 
 Hark! The master shouts out in aloud voice, "Every 
 boy remain in his place !" Dick turned pale, and 
 looked at Harry, who was frightened enough. Their 
 consciences told them something was coming. A pain- 
 ful silence ensued ; then the master exclaimed, " Dick 
 Wilful and Harry Mischief, come forward !" 
 
 The two culprits, thus addressed, were ready to sink 
 into their very shoes with fear. Slowly and sullenly 
 they moved on, for they dared not disobey ; and they 
 could not run away now. With a firm grasp on each 
 boy's shoulder, the master then relates, in the presence 
 of the whole school, what these idle boys had done 
 how they had disobeyed his strict commands, alike 
 heedless of his displeasure, or the consequences of 
 their wickedness. He then gave them a severe caning, 
 which they richly deserved ; and no one pitied them.
 
 THE ROBINS* NEST. 49 
 
 They were known in the school as a pair of idle, 
 hardened boys, who led away the younger ones into 
 mischief. So none of their schoolmates felt for them 
 when they cried out, and made a great uproar, each 
 time the cane fell over their shoulders and sides. I 
 should think the pain they suffered taught them a 
 lesson, and brought to their memories the agonies they 
 had often inflicted on poor dumb animals and insects. 
 
 There was scarcely a dog or cat in the village that 
 did not know them, and shrink away affrighted from 
 them. On one occasion, they tied an old tin saucepan 
 to a string, and fastened it to a dog's tail, and drove 
 him, yelling and bleeding, all over the place, till the 
 poor beast nearly went mad. At another time they 
 caught a little kitten, just come outside a cottage door 
 to sun itself, arid after holding it under water, in a 
 neighbouring pond, till it was half dead, they piled up 
 a heap of dirt, and put it on the top of the pile, and 
 threw stones at it till they hit its brains out, and it 
 died in great torture. 
 
 But especially did these miserable boys delight in 
 bird-nesting, and wringing the necks of the little ten-
 
 50 THE ROBINS' NEST. 
 
 der nestlings ; and in tormenting those helpless insects, 
 known as cockchaffers. They would even appoint to 
 meet one another, and try and bring some more boys, 
 as cruel as themselves, to " enjoy the fun" of seeing the 
 agony of the poor insect, as it spun round and round, 
 with a pin run through its little quivering body ! 
 
 Remonstrating one day with these young monsters, 
 and telling them that God would assuredly punish 
 their sinful practices, one of them told me " cock- 
 chaffers didn't feel ! " and asked me how I knew they 
 suffered pain? I replied by taking a long pin from 
 my shawl, and requesting the boy to allow me to 
 pierce it through one of his fingers. From this trial 
 of course he shrank; for you know, dear reader, the 
 cruel boy is ever a coward. 
 
 I then proposed to tell one of our men, who was 
 turning over hay in a field close by, to bring his bright 
 fork, and run it through the boy's body ; but at this he 
 turned pale, and fancying perhaps that I was about to 
 carry my lesson into practice, he took to his heels, and 
 ran bellowing home, as fast as he could ! 
 
 I do think, that cruel and unfeeling as many boys
 
 THE ROBINS' NEST. 51 
 
 are, if they only knew but a little, a very little, of the 
 torture they inflict, they would shrink from inflicting 
 it on any of these poor harmless creatures, who are un- 
 able to speak a word, and to cry out for mercy. Their 
 helplessness, of itself, ought to appeal to the heart of 
 every boy who has one spark of kindness in his nature. 
 
 I knew a dear boy, who, whenever he saw a creature, 
 formed by the hand of his heavenly Father, ill-used, 
 would rush to the rescue, and plead, even with tears, 
 for its release. Now, think you this lad, and a little 
 lad he was too, was "chicken-hearted," and a "blubber 
 head?" No! no! 
 
 Out upon the great world of waters, there rode a 
 stately ship ; every sail was unfurled to catch the 
 breeze ; every heart bounded cheerfully as she cut her 
 way, as a bird cleaves the air with her snowy wing, 
 through the crested waves, each bound bringing her 
 nearer the wished-for " land." Anon, the scene 
 changed ! Suddenly, almost as a flash of lightning, 
 the wind flew round ; clouds covered the sky. 
 
 In less time than it takes me to tell you, dear chil- 
 dren, every man was at his post, every sail was furled,
 
 52 THE KOBINS* NEST: 
 
 and they' waited the rush of the squall. Onward it 
 caine, sweeping, sweeping with a death howl. Sud- 
 denly there was a quick movement to one side of the 
 gallant ship ; then yelled that terrible shout, that God 
 grant none of you may ever hear! " Man overboard !" 
 To launch the friendly life boat, to leap into her with a 
 speed and energy, as if they were going to some glory 
 awaiting them, Avas but the work of an instant ; twelve 
 gallant fellows, and one brave boy the first who 
 bounded into the boat bearded the angry billows, to 
 try and save their fellow-man. Like a black speck, 
 now on the top of a crested wave, then hid from sight 
 by its furious lashing did that poor fellow seem to 
 their straining eyes. 
 
 With every noble nerve strung to its master pitch, 
 onward they speed ; and oh ! joy ! joy ! they rapidly 
 near the drowning sailor! "Another pull my hearties, 
 and we shall have him," shouted a firm, but youthful 
 voice. Another pull, and they are close upon victory ! 
 With the speed of the young panther leaping to its 
 mother's breast, did the sailor boy whose shout, " an- 
 other pull,. my hearties," had cheered on the rowers
 
 THE ROBINS' N1ST. f>3 
 
 .spring over the boat side, and grasp the desperate 
 swimmer. 
 
 A wild hurrah !, rose from the hoat ; a dozen sturdy 
 arms were stretched out to cradle the rescuer, and the 
 rescued. Then a great billow struck the boat, and 
 drove her furiously on one side, leaving many yards 
 between them and her crew ! Oh ! it was a dreadful 
 moment ! but all was not lost. 
 
 "God help the brave lad !" reverently exclaimed an 
 old white-haired man ; and a deep hoarse " Amen" fol- 
 lowed. Once more the crew approach the struggling 
 pair, and it was plainly to be seen that the brave boy 
 could not much longer keep his grasp of the failing 
 man. " God bless the boy !" again broke from the 
 old sailor, as he watched the fearful conflict against 
 the proud waves. Another moment, and again they 
 closed upon them! Another moment, and they are 
 .both enclosed in the sailor's friendly arms! . 
 
 But alas ! alas ! as they were dragging them in, the 
 fair temple of the brave young saviour of his shipmate 
 .came in contact with a piece of iron, and a deadly 
 wound opened its red lips, and poured forth his warm
 
 54 THE KOBINS' NEST. 
 
 life-blood ; and ere they could row back to their ship, 
 the pale face, and shortened breathing of their favour- 
 ite, as he lay in the bottom of the boat, by the side of 
 his exhausted mate, filled those rowers with terrible 
 anxiety. " If they could but reach her !" Oh ! how 
 they pulled, till their nerves seemed cracking ! At last 
 they gain the friendly bark. Tenderly they lift out the 
 youthful pair ; but who can paint the grief that sat on 
 each manly face, as the ship surgeon shook his head, 
 while he leant over the white upturned face of the 
 bleeding boy ! 
 
 After tending the wound, and forcing him to swallow 
 a cordial, he seemed to revive a little, and opened his 
 dark blue eyes with a sweet smile. The old sailor 
 brushed off the tears that rolled down his face with the 
 cuff of his jacket bent down to him, and whispered to 
 him. Once more he opened his beautiful eyes, and 
 there shone a glory in them like the light of heaven ; 
 and from his pale and parted lips, he just murmured a 
 few words none who heard them ever forgot " Cap- 
 tain of my salvation !" and then he went to sleep, 
 without a sigh or struggle. 
 
 The old sailor came from the same village as the
 
 THE ROBINS' NEST. 55 
 
 glorious sailor boy, and told all the solemn tale. And, 
 my dear young readers, you perhaps would like to 
 know the name of this hero/ Perhaps you have al- 
 ready guessed ? Yes, you are right. It was no other 
 than he they ridiculed as " chicken-heart," and " blub- 
 ber-head." These coarse torturers of insects and ani- 
 mals ! Ah ! I wish every village boy, and every town 
 and country boy too, was such a " chicken-heart," 
 and " blubber-head," as the boy hero ! 
 
 I have not told you the secret of all his loveliness of 
 character. It was this. He had a dear mother, who 
 loved her Saviour ; and when he was a little curly 
 headed, bright-browed, tender-hearted child, she used 
 to call him to her knee, and tell him the story of that 
 Saviour's love, till he learnt to love Him too ; and 
 when he went to sea, as a midshipman in one of the 
 Queen's grand ships, his mother whispered in his wil- 
 ling ear, " My son never forsake the Captain of your 
 salvation." " Never, never, my own mother," he 
 smiled, as his arms relaxed from her loving neck : 
 and they parted never to meet again, till she meets 
 her sailor boy, wearing the crown of glory " that fadeth 
 not away."
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 BUT deal* me ! dear me ! how I have flown away from 
 my darling robins ! Let me see, where was I ? 0,1 
 remember where Dick Wilful, and Harry Mischief 
 threw a large stone through one of the church win- 
 dows, and got a "sound thrashing" for it too. Well, 
 through this very hole our robins flew, the next morn- 
 ing, in search of a favourable spot, where they could 
 make a fresh home for themselves and young family. 
 To say the least, I believe they had a little hankering 
 to see something more of the world than they had 
 done since their marriage. 
 
 I suppose I need not repeat, that all the young ones, 
 for reasons before stated, were anxious enough to 
 change their quiet quarters. Very eagerly, therefore, 
 did they look out on that bright summer morning, to 
 see if "it was likely to keep fine;" and their anticipa- 
 tions were realized ; for a more lovely day never shone 
 on the earth. Not a cloud dimmed the glad blue sky !
 
 THE ROBINS* NEST. 57 
 
 The cool green leaves whispered lovingly to each other. 
 The rivulet, of which I have spoken, went on murmur- 
 ing soft music. The very air seemed full of joy and 
 praise, filled as it was with the perfume of flowers, and 
 the songs of thousands of feathered "musicians. 
 
 Our dear birdies, one and all, were nearly out of 
 their wits with enjoyment. They hopped from hough 
 to hough, chirping at the top of their voices from very 
 happiness. I am sure that only the slender, dainty 
 foot of a robin could have possibly rested on the deli- 
 cate twigs they perched upon. Nothing could exceed 
 their delight ! Never had they seen anything so beau- 
 tiful as the rectory garden ! Never had they even 
 dreamed of such fairy land, not they ! And the butter- 
 flies! Oh, what butterflies! Their blue and gold 
 wings, glittering in the sun's warm ray, almost blinded 
 poor Weeney. The constant chorus from the other 
 birds almost bewildered her. Even bold Bobby left off 
 gormandizing some cake crumbs he fell in with, to 
 look up, and admire all the beauties round about him ; 
 till at last, wearied with enjoyment, and lulled by the 
 hum of thousands of " busy bees," they all four nestled
 
 58 THE ROBINS' NEST. 
 
 together iu the stump of an old tree, and went off fast 
 asleep. 
 
 Seeing them so safely occupied, their good parents 
 took the opportunity of making a friendly call on some 
 very genteel robiris, who had come to settle in an 
 adjoining field, and who long wished to cultivate their 
 friendship. After they had paid their visit, they flew 
 to their old trysting place the nursery window at the 
 rectory probably with some idea of learning the fate of 
 cream-loving Dora, or of getting some " goodies " for 
 their young ones from the dear curly-haired rectory 
 children. 
 
 How long they remained away I cannot tell ; for 
 time passes very swiftly, especially in making " morn- 
 ing calls ;" and how long their little ones slept I am 
 equally ignorant ; but, by and bye, Bobby opened first 
 one eye, then the other, and looked all around. Then he 
 called " Chirp ! chirp!" meaning "Mother! mother!" 
 and as no reply came, he laid down again and tried to 
 get another "nap." As, however, he could not "forget 
 himself" in that way, he speedily forgot himself in 
 another way; so he gave his brother a pretty sharp
 
 THE ROBINS* NEST. 59 
 
 peck, for no reason in the world, but because he was 
 tired of being quiet and good. Whistle, however, being 
 too comfortable and sleepy to mind him, he shut up 
 his eyes, drooped his head on one side, and told him, 
 in a drowsy tone, to " be off, and mind his own busi- 
 ness." 
 
 It was pretty clear that Bobby caught an idea from 
 this rebuke of his brother ; for he hopped about four 
 inches, intending to " be off." Then he hopped back 
 again, and gave poor slumbering Whistle another and 
 harder peck, and flew away " to mind his own busi- 
 ness," as he supposed, by making friends with the first 
 bird that came in his way. 
 
 Now I must just remark here, that this was one of 
 the warnings his wise mother had laid very strongly 
 on Bobby to observe, namely, to be very careful not to 
 make any street acquaintances. "Young birds," she 
 remarked, and I add, young people too, " are very fond 
 of believing they know a good deal better than their 
 parents in this respect." " O," say they, " I'm sure 
 there can't be any harm in this, or that ; mother is so 
 particular, and nonsensical, just as if we didn't know
 
 60 THE ROBIN'S* NEST. 
 
 right from wrong," and so on. I dare say you will 
 think me very nonsensical too, when I say that is the 
 very point ; you don't " know right from wrong." How 
 should you, young as you are ? You have no expe- 
 rience to guide you ; and wise people are often deceived, 
 putting " sweet for bitter, and hitter for sweet." There- 
 fore, ever remember the fifth commandment, to honour, 
 that is, to obey your father and mother. God never loves 
 a disobedient child ; nay, more, God is angry with the 
 disobedient child every day. Oh ! how dreadful a 
 thing that is! And then, as to making acquaintances 
 in the streets, it never comes to any good ; and so you 
 will see in the case of this self-willed, disobedient bird. 
 
 After, as I before said, giving his brother a sharp 
 peck, only to gratify his mischievous disposition, he 
 How over a hedge, and lighted close to a young robin 
 who was looking for grubs in the field. In the boldest 
 manner Bobby thus began: "I say, old fellow, what 
 are you moping there all alone for?" 
 
 "And what were you moping for just now, 'long of 
 those young chirping things yonder?" retorted Master 
 'Ruby,- pertly. Bobby was ashamed to say he had been
 
 TITE ROBINS* NEST: 61 
 
 " napping ;" he thought it would look so like a baby- 
 bird ; so he puffed himself out, and swelling with im- 
 portance, like the ox in the fable, he replied, "I was 
 entrusted by my father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. 
 Robin, to take care of my young brother and sisters, 
 while they went to dine with a family of distinction 
 close by." 
 
 Ruby was a deep bird ; he saw, at a glance, Bobby's 
 weak points ; that he was proud and conceited, and 
 he resolved to trap him ; moreover, he felt lonely. He 
 was by no means a good bird ; he was constantly man- 
 aging to get into scrapes ; and all the obedient little 
 birds round about shunned him, and would not be seen 
 in his company. So he made a low bow, and remarked, 
 in reply, " What a shame, to leave such a fine hand- 
 some looking young fellow as you to take care of the 
 young ones, when hundreds, and hundreds of birds of 
 quality would be delighted to make your acquaintance." 
 
 Didn't Master Bobby look important now ? His red 
 breast heaved with gratified vanity. 
 
 Flattery is food for fools ; and Ruby had got the 
 advantage at once ; so he went on pouring into the
 
 Oy THE ROBINS NEST. 
 
 simpleton's ear the most extravagant speeches, and 
 bare-faced compliments, determined to make him a 
 greater fool than he was already. 
 
 As to Bobby, enraptured at having found so discrim- 
 inating a comrade, he hopped about at his side 
 and who so fine as he ? while, in glowing colours, and 
 over-drawn words, he described the charms and beau- 
 ties of the country he came from. The delicious grubs ! 
 never were there such grubs ! The refreshing brooks ! 
 never were there such brooks ! 
 
 Farther and farther they flew. Bobby's delight grow 
 stronger every moment ; and when his new friend 
 added to the other glowing statement, that " he may 
 do just as he liked, go to rest when he liked, or not 
 go at all," he made up his mind to fly away the first 
 opportunity. 
 
 Seeing his advantage, Ruby exclaimed in a joyous 
 tone, " 0, mine is a rare jolly life, free as the air 
 and wind ! Why don't you come and pay us a visit ? 
 All my friends will be delighted to show you every 
 attention." 
 
 At first Bobby was startled at the thought of his
 
 THE ROBINS NEST. 03 
 
 open disobedience to his good mother ; but Ruby re- 
 plied, in answer to this objection, that " his mother 
 need know nothing about it; he would be home long 
 before she would. Besides," added the crafty tempter, 
 " what a shame, that a fine, brave, handsome follow 
 like you should be kept in leading strings by your 
 ' mammy,' taking care of the young ones like a nursery 
 bird." 
 
 This was too much for Bobby. The idea of being 
 sneered at ! Beside, " What harm can be done by it?" 
 he argued in his own mind. " I can get back long 
 before father and mother come home, and they wont 
 know anything about it." 
 
 The point was lost. The tempter had prevailed. 
 Bobby consented to go, and he hopped on by the side 
 of Ruby ; now picking up a choice worm, then flying a 
 bit, singing and twittering; in fact, "doing just as 
 they liked/' and quite forgetting how quickly the time 
 was stealing away, and how far they had wandered 
 from the beautiful garden. 
 
 By and bye Bobby felt tired. His legs ached terribly, 
 and he wished to return ; so he gently hinted to his
 
 64 THE ROBINS' NEST. 
 
 friend his intention. " O, don't turn back just yet," 
 replied Ruby, " we are just close to my father's house." 
 This was a falsehood, for his real home was far away 
 yet ; he had flown miles from the old spot ; aye, and 
 sad to relate, he could not find it again. 
 
 Somewhat re-assured by his friend's plausible man- 
 ner, Bobby went on a little further. They had by this 
 time left the green fields, and were in the dusty road, 
 close by the stream, where stood the tumble-down cot- 
 tage that very stream, where a few weeks ago his 
 father first saw his tender, watchful mother. The two 
 little disobedient birds stopped to drink some of the 
 clear bright water that went singing past, shook their 
 dusty feathers, chased a few long-legged gnats, and 
 thereby going still farther from home. 
 
 Unheeding the lapse of time, the shades of evening 
 began to draw on ; and as they now hopped and flew 
 less bravely than they did when they set out, sundry 
 misgivings took possession of their minds. Bobby 
 heaved a deep sigh, and Ruby was not quite so boast- 
 ful about his grand friends. Presently they heard a 
 dreadful noise, such a noise as never any disobedient
 
 THE ROBIKS' NEST. 65 
 
 robins heard in their lives. Then a bright, awful light 
 shone for an instant round, and almost blinded them ! 
 Oh, how affrighted they were ! They hopped, and flew 
 as fast as fear would let them, till they reached the 
 friendly shade of some fine flag leaves. They were 
 wet and miserable! while louder and louder, nearer 
 and nearer, came the horrible noise, and more blinding 
 became the blue forked lightning ! Trembling and 
 downcast, all their fine speeches and boasting forgotten, 
 the unhappy little wanderers dared not move ! They 
 expected every moment to be crushed to pieces. What 
 were they to do? 
 
 The rain fell in wild torrents ; the drenched flag 
 leaves flapped heavily over them ; their feathers were 
 dripping ; they shivered with cold. If they attempted 
 to fly, the pouring rain would beat them into the earth. 
 
 " Oh, why, why did you tempt me to leave my little 
 brother and sisters, and to disobey my kind good 
 mother ?" exclaimed Bobby, in a distressed tone. 
 "You pleased yourself, and needn't have done it, if 
 you had not liked," retorted Ruby. " No, I didn't ; 
 you made me go by your fine descriptions, and telling
 
 66 THE ROBINS' NEST. 
 
 me how glad your friends would be to see me. I don't 
 believe you have got any friends ; and if you have, I 
 don't believe they care a rush about you !" replied 
 Bobby, in an angry tone; for conscience lashed him, 
 and he was glad to throw the blame on any one, to 
 lighten the load he felt. " You are a fine fellow in 
 your own eyes, but you are a long way from home," 
 sneered Ruby, bitterly ! 
 
 Bobby couldn't stand this ; he flew at his " dear 
 friend," and pecked him in the eye till it bled. Iluby 
 was not a coward, and flew at Bobby's tail, and pecked 
 out nearly all the feathers he was so proud of. Bobby 
 retaliated, and one of the fiercest single beaked battles 
 took place between these two wicked little birds, that 
 can be found in the annals of redbreast history. 
 
 I cannot say I am glad to record that Bobby had 
 the best of the battle, for he killed his " dear friend," 
 by pecking a hole in his head, quite into the brain. 
 
 Poor little Ruby ! See what disobedience comes to ! 
 You will readily imagine that Bobby had no enjoyment 
 in his victory ; quite the contrary. When he saw 
 Ruby fall down, with his bright eyes all glazed and
 
 THE ROBINS' NEST. 67 
 
 bloody, and when, after a terrible quivering, his beau- 
 tiful little form lay stiff and cold, he would have given 
 all the world, if it had been his own, to bring him back 
 again to life. He hopped round and round the tiny 
 corpse, and chirped so mournfully, that it would have 
 made you weep to have seen him. Then, tired and 
 sorrow-stricken, he went as far as he could from the 
 scene of their battle, and sat moping and desolate, till 
 night drew her dark curtain. 
 
 Oh ! what a host of memories rise up before him ! 
 He thought of his gentle, loving mother, and his 
 disobedience to her wise commands ; he thought ol 
 noble, unselfish Whistle, and all his own ill-treatment 
 of him : he thought of the many sly pecks and kicks 
 he had given poor delicate Weeney, who bore it all so 
 patiently. " Oh ! that I could but see you all again, to 
 tell you how sorry I am, and ask you to forgive me ; I 
 would never be unkind to you again !" sobbed the 
 miserable, prodigal bird. But alas ! it was too late ! 
 He had brought all this trouble upon himself, and had 
 no one to blame. Longing for his own quiet nest, and 
 the brooding of his mother's warm breast, he crept, as
 
 68 THE IJOBINS' NEST. 
 
 well as his weary, cold limbs would let him, towards 
 the old cottage, hoping to make a bed under the dry 
 thatch. This brought him again in view of his dead, 
 false friend Ruby. He had just reached the threshold, 
 when a strange loud " hoot-a-hoo ! hoot-a-ho-o !" made 
 him stop, and tremble violently. His troubles seemed 
 never to end. 
 
 Nearer and nearer came the fearful noise ; and over 
 his defenceless head were flapping two large wings, 
 while two eyes were looking down Oh ! such great 
 eyes ! and a beak Oh ! such a crooked beak ! 
 seemed to point at him ! Flap went the wings ; open 
 went the beak ; and poor Bobby felt his doom was 
 sealed ! But to die there all alone ; to feel certain 
 that he should be eaten up by the young owlets, who 
 were peeping out of the decayed bark of the old oak 
 tree ! " What shall I do ? Oh ! what will become of 
 me ?" cried Bobby in despair; " where can I hide from 
 that monster ? Ah me ! foolish, sinful, miserable bird 
 that I am, I have deserved all this grief and fear, by 
 mv disobedience to the best of mothers." 
 
 For a moment or two there was a pause of dreadful 
 suspense. Then came the flap ! flap ! flap ! Nearer
 
 THE HOBTSS' NEST. 69 
 
 and nearer it came ! The ghastly face of the white owl 
 peered down close to that of poor Bobby. Fear struck 
 him to the ground. He gave one or two faint gasps, 
 then a short struggle, and he turned on his back and 
 died. You see, in the picture, the great white owl car- 
 rying poor little Bobby's warm body to her young ones 
 and they will eat him up, and no doubt say what a 
 delicious mouthful he was. And there lies Ruby ! 
 Whether the great white awl returned again for him 
 also, I cannot tell ; although I should think it most 
 probable he did. If she saw him, as I suppose was 
 the case, she would be quite unwilling to allow so 
 delicate a tit-bit to remain near her nest, uneaten by 
 her hungry little children. 
 
 Poor Bobby ! Poor Ruby ! I am truly sorry for 
 you ; but you chose your own ways, and despised all 
 the advice of those who knew better than yourselves ; 
 and what could you expect? Farewell, poor disobe- 
 dient birds, farewell ! I am grieved for you, and so 
 are my dear young readers, I know ; and if they take 
 warning by your fate, you will not have lived and 
 died in vain. Poor Bobby ! poor Ruby ! 
 
 " The way of transgressors is hard."
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 " I saw a beggar in the street, and another beggar pitied him ; 
 sympathy sank into his soul, and the pitied one felt happier." 
 
 SUPPOSE we now take a peep at the generous brother 
 and sisters of silly Bobby. We left them, you recol- 
 lect, with their beaks under their wings, enjoying a 
 delicious repose, fatigued with pleasure, and dreaming 
 away the bright hours. On awakening, they stood up 
 and stretched themselves, looking anxiously round for 
 their parents. As they did not come, Whistle amused 
 himself with one of his lovely songs, between the notes 
 of which Chirp thought she heard a feeble cry. Look- 
 ing round, she exclamed, " Hark, brother ! do hark ! 
 I am sure I heard a cry of pain." 
 
 Vexed at being interrupted, just as he was resting 
 on a note he had been some time trying to reach, 
 Whistle replied, rather hastily, "Well, well, Weeney 
 dear, what if it is '? It's nothing to us." But gentle 
 Weeney would not be put off; she would not let him
 
 THE ROBINS' NEST. 71 
 
 rest ; so, putting her little head close to his, she re- 
 plied, " Oh, dear brother, suppose that sorrowful note 
 should be our poor Bobby ; do, do go, and see !" 
 
 To oblige Weeney, of whom he was very fond, 
 Whistle left off singing, and listened. A very plain- 
 tive note was borne towards them by the soft breeze. 
 Whistle became interested. " I'll just pop out and 
 see," he remarked. " Oh no ! don't get out of that 
 sheltered bush, dear brother," exclaimed Chirp ; " you 
 know mother told us not to stir till she came back. 
 Let us call to the poor bird, and ask if we can do any- 
 thing for it." Again the cry seemed to come nearer. 
 " 0, its only a poor plain brown sparrow," said Whistle. 
 " Only a poor sparrow ! Oh, brother ! even a sparrow 
 can feel pain ; do call it ; perhaps we can do some- 
 thing to help it," persisted Weeney. 
 
 Now, I think Master Whistle must have " got out of 
 bed on the wrong side" that morning, as people say, for 
 certainly he was in a mood very unusual with him, as 
 he was a sweet-tempered, obliging bird generally. So 
 he answered, "I am not going to make myself hoarse, 
 shrieking after a sparrow, I promise you." And let
 
 72 THE HOBTHS' NEST. 
 
 me add, I think he was a little vexed at having his 
 song interrupted ; for you have heard that he was 
 somewhat proud of his voice, and vanity invariably 
 leads to other sins. 
 
 Chirp did not like to look upon Weeney's sad eyes ; 
 so she called as loudly as she could, " What is the 
 matter, Master Brown Coat? Pray come, and take 
 shelter in our comfortable bush." In a few moments, 
 limping along, and dragging after him one of his legs, 
 came Master Brown Coat. " Oh!" exclaimed Weeney, 
 " look, brother, look at his poor leg ! it is bleeding ; 
 who can have been so cruel as to hurt the poor little 
 thing?" " Come close to us, we will warm you," ex- 
 claimed Chirp ; and the two loving sisters made room 
 for the fainting bird between them. " Are you hun- 
 gry ?" softly inquired Weeney ; and then added, quickly, 
 " our eldest brother will be home soon, and he will go 
 and find you some nice food." 
 
 " I will go, I will go," said generous, repentant 
 Whistle ; and was in the act of hopping down, 
 when the stranger bird stopped him, by saying, in a 
 low voice, " I am not hungry, kind friends ; I am too
 
 THE ROBINS' NEST. 78 
 
 ill to eat : and believe I am dying ; but I could not 
 without thanking you, from my heart, for your kind 
 and generous conduct towards a poor stranger ; by 
 warning you with my last breath, never to disobey 
 the commands of your dear father and mother, and 
 leaving your nests or your snug hiding-places. If 
 you do, either xinfeeling boys, or men with dreadful 
 things full of noise and fire, will destroy you ; or 
 you may stray into a trap, set for you by thoughtless, 
 cruel children. Many a time, as I sat beside my dear 
 mother on the house-top, watching these proceedings, 
 has she said to me and my mother was a knowing 
 bird " My child, it often happens that people who set 
 traps for others fall into traps themselves ;" and I 
 found her words true ; for the cruel boy who let off one 
 of those things full of fire and noise, and covered with 
 rust, which gave me my death wound, blew off one of 
 his own fingers, and he will be a cripple in his hand 
 for ever." As he uttered this warning, his little voice 
 gradually grew fainter. Once more he feebly thanked 
 the three kind birds for their compassion towards a 
 stranger, and then, after a short struggle and a 
 mournful chirp, he died.
 
 74 THE ROBINS' NEST. 
 
 Every one of the kind birds fell to sobbing, as they 
 saw poor Brown Coat breathe his last ; and Whistle, 
 ashamed of his tears, yet unable to hide them, ex- 
 claimed, as he brushed them away with his wing, " I 
 should like to catch that cruel boy that killed poor 
 Brown Coat. I'd peck out both his eyes !" " Oh ! 
 brother, dear," replied Weeney, "don't say such shock- 
 ing things as those. I'm sure you wouldn't do any 
 such thing; you would be sorry that he was so naughty 
 and cruel, and hope he will live and learn to do better, 
 and be kind and thoughtful for others. Besides, I 
 don't think it is so much the fault of the boys them- 
 selves, as it is of their parents, who allow them to 
 carry those fearful guns. What do you say, Chirp ?" 
 
 " I agree with you, dearest Weeney," answered her 
 sister, " and I think there ought to be a law made, to 
 prevent boys from using ' fire arms ;' how should they 
 know the proper use of them, indeed? I hope," added 
 Chirp, " it will be a lesson to the foolish boy who lost 
 his finger, not to play with guns again." 
 
 Thus conversing, the time passed away ; and I am 
 glad to record my sincere approval of the conduct of
 
 THE ROBINS' NEST. 75 
 
 these young sisters, not only in their compassion to- 
 wards poor wounded Brown Coat, but in giving Master 
 Whistle a lesson, not to despise a neighbour, because 
 he is poorly and meanly clad. Many a warm heart 
 beats under a shabby coat ; and many a mean spirit 
 dwells under silks, and satins, and showy accomplish- 
 ments. And remember, dear children, that 
 
 Whene'er we lend to others aid, 
 We always shall be well repaid." 
 
 Not that we should do good with the idea of being re- 
 paid that would be selfish but because doing good 
 naturally results in reward to those who 'do it. 
 
 A few moments after the above sad occurrence, the 
 clouds began to lower, and the sky became overcast. 
 Seeing that a storm was brewing, Mr. and Mrs. Robin 
 took a hasty leave of their friends, returned to their 
 children, and placed them in safety, completely shel- 
 tered by the wall and the friendly ivy. 
 
 But Bobby where was Bobby ? His brother and 
 sisters could give their anxious parents no information 
 respecting him. They chirped ! and chirped ! and
 
 76 THE ROBINS' NKST. 
 
 chirped ! but still no answer came. Mrs. Robin 
 wished to go in search of him, but her careful husband 
 persuaded her not to risk her life for one who had 
 acted so contrary to his parents' wishes. She pleaded 
 very hard, but just then a vivid flash of lightning, and 
 a loud thunder clap, decided the question. The fond 
 mother found enough to do to comfort those who were 
 left. Weeney became quite ill, and shook, and 
 trembled, and trembled again, till her legs refused to 
 support her ; and had not her fathei-'s strong wing 
 held her up, she would have fallen down and died. 
 
 When the storm was over, they related poor Brown 
 Coat's melancholy end, and the advice he had given 
 them with his dying breath. Very much gratified 
 were their parents to know that their precepts had not 
 been disregarded, but that their offspring had shown 
 so much kindness towards the forlorn sti'anger. Even 
 Whistle had acknowledged his fault, and told his 
 mother he " was so sorry" he had spoken harshly, and 
 said he would " never do so again." 
 
 Day after day they all watched, and watched, but 
 no sight of Bobby ! 0, how they all looked out for his
 
 THE KOBINS* NEST. 77 
 
 return ; but alas ! he never came again ; and long did 
 hope linger in his poor mother's breast, after it had 
 died out of the hearts of all beside. About a fortnight 
 or three weeks after the storm, Whistle, being grown a 
 fine strong bird, they resolved to remove to a short 
 distance ; but Weeney, poor little Weeney, was a sad 
 trial to them all. Instead of growing stronger, as she 
 grew older, she became day by day weaker ; and her 
 parents feared she would never be strong enough to 
 provide her own living, and take care of herself. Truly 
 it was a great trial to them ; but the love of parents to 
 their little ones, and always to the weakest and crip- 
 pled ones if such there be is a wonderful and lovely 
 thing. Dear children ! never vex your kind father, or 
 bring tears into the eyes of your tender mother. If 
 you do, the memory of your sin will be a heavy load, 
 when they are sleeping in the old churchyard. 
 
 Then, as to Weeney Robin, though her slender legs 
 often ached, and her appetite failed daily, she was both 
 cheerful and contented. No murmuring, no impatience, 
 no envy, ever disturbed her gentle bosom. She would 
 take the bitter herb her mother brought her as rnedi-
 
 78 THE ROBINS' NEST. 
 
 cine in the hope it would cure her, and make her 
 strong without one word of complaint. Weeney never 
 made a fuss, or set up a cry, or shook her head, and 
 spat the medicine out of her mouth, as I have seen 
 children do. I hope none of my little readers' con- 
 sciences accuse them in this respect. Mary, Fanny, 
 Bessie, Freddy, Johnny, what say you? Have you 
 ever disturbed the whole house, because you had a 
 powder or pill to take, to do you good ? If you have 
 done so, for shame ! Pray 1'esolve never to be such a 
 baby again. Think of good Weeney, and don't be 
 outdone by a bird. 
 
 As you may easily imagine, these gentle, patient 
 ways endeared the delicate bird very much to all her 
 family and friends. Every one would do what they 
 could for " poor dear Weeney." As to Whistle, he 
 made such a pet of her ! never was the like ! There 
 was nothing he would not give up to her, even his 
 dearly loved notes, of the sound of which he was so 
 proud, if it made her head ache. Poor little Weeney ! 
 Whenever she dies she will be as much missed and 
 lamented as any bird in the country.
 
 THE ROBINS' NEST. 79 
 
 At an early hour on the following morning, Mr. 
 Robin shook his plumage, feathered himself, and 
 washed his beak in a tuft hard by. Whistle did the 
 same. He had always been taught to be a clean and 
 tidy bird ; never to leave his night's shelter without 
 attending to his plumage. His parents had earnestly 
 impressed on all their brood the great importance of 
 cleanliness. " No matter," they would say, " if you 
 cannot make your feathers so smooth at your first 
 attempt, try again. Go on ; never give up. ' Slow 
 and steady wins the race ' and ' whatever is worth 
 doing at all is worth doing well.' " 
 
 With all such good advice as this constantly before 
 them, we may be sure the young birds learnt to do 
 everything in a proper manner ; and seldom slovened 
 over their morning's washings, or neglected their per- 
 sonal appearance. This strict attention to neatness 
 and order was sometimes neglected by Miss Chirp, 
 who, though kind and good generally, had certainly 
 this failing and a difficult one she found it to over- 
 come the love of ease, and of putting off a disagree- 
 able duty until a more convenient time should arrive
 
 80 THE ROBINS' NKST. 
 
 which convenient time never did arrive, and never will 
 arrive. 
 
 Poor Chirp was oftentimes very sorry for her neg- 
 lect, and used to promise her good mother to do better 
 in future ; but, like many little girls that I know, she 
 forgot, in a few weeks, her pi-omise of amendment ; and 
 thus again fell under punishment. Hence, you will 
 quite understand how particular Whistle \vas, never to 
 presume to accompany his father, unless lie was neat 
 and clean. 
 
 Before they parted from Mrs. Robin, and the young 
 lady birds, they all joined in their morning hymn of 
 praise a custom they never neglected. Then Mr. 
 Robin, and Whistle took their flight, passing over many 
 wide fields and beautiful hedges, clustering with roses 
 and honeysuckles. Then they stopped on a common, 
 covered with gorse and heather, quite dazzling to the 
 unexperienced eyes of Whistle. First, he stopped to 
 admire the bright yellow gorse ; and, forgetting to ask 
 his father's permission, he hopped upon a bush covered 
 with scented flowers ; and, oh ! what a sharp prick he 
 got!
 
 THE ROBINS' NEST. 81 
 
 How soon he repented his rashness ! Hearing him 
 chirp piteously, his father looked up. There was son 
 Whistle, struggling, and sinking deeper and deeper 
 amidst the sharp prickles. 
 
 "Why, Whistle, my hoy!" exclaimed Robin, "how 
 came you there ? You are in a sad predicament !" 
 
 "Oh! father dear, the bush looked so beautiful!" 
 pleaded poor Whistle. 
 
 " And like all young birds, you were caught by the 
 outside show ; but recollect, ' all is not gold that 
 glitters,' " replied Robin : and then added, in a cheer- 
 ful tone, "however, make a brave effort, my boy; a 
 long pull, and a strong pull, and you will soon be out. 
 Now give one good jump, and it will be all right." 
 
 Whistle did as his father directed him ; and, penitent 
 and crest-fallen, he will remember in future not to be 
 too hasty in forming an opinion about appearances. 
 
 As they hopped along, Mr. Robin remarked to his 
 son, " Always recollect that heather is a safe plant ; 
 many a time I have sheltered under its purple bios-
 
 82 THE ROBTNS' NEST. 
 
 " What makes the grass and heath so short in some 
 places?" asked Whistle. 
 
 " We are coming to the more retired spots, my dear 
 son," replied Robin, " where the little brown rabbit 
 loves to dwell ; and they feed upon the heath, and nib- 
 ble the blue harebell, and the scented thyme ; and they 
 burrow under the earth, deep down in their warm 
 nests, in those little holes." 
 
 " How dark it must be all down under ground ; I 
 should not like to live where it is always night," sug- 
 gested Whistle. 
 
 Robin looked puzzled. He scratched his head with 
 his little toe, and an idea seemed to strike him 
 " Why, you see, my son, they are rabbits, and we are 
 birds ; therefore birds cannot do as rabbits do, nor can 
 rabbits do as birds do. We love the fresh, pure air, 
 and the tops of trees, and the habitation of man. They 
 do not. They are afraid of man, and run away from 
 him ; while we love his resorts, and return his little 
 kindnesses to us with our best song. Altogether, we 
 have not much to complain of. When the snow covers 
 the ground, and the bright holly berries hang on the
 
 THE EOBTKS' NEST. 83 
 
 trees ; when food is scarce, and many of our fellow- 
 birds die with hunger, how often do dear little children 
 save the crumbs, and save us dainty meals ! How often 
 we hop on the window sills, and find them strewed with 
 tit bits ! Kind little benefactors ! to put your small 
 white hands out in the cold to feed us poor robins! 
 And recollect, my son, that we, little birds, must be 
 faithful. We must cheer them with our sweetest song. 
 We must be their humble Christmas friends. By all, 
 and every one, we must "be called their ' little winter 
 friends, dear Robin Redbreasts !' Now think of these 
 things when you are alone in the world, son Whistle." 
 
 Son Whistle bowed his head, and his father's words 
 evidently made a deep impression on him. 
 
 For several days in succession the two birds flew 
 over the neighbouring fields, and lanes, and commons ; 
 and, as you may easily imagine, my dear young friends, 
 ** Son Whistle " gained a good deal of experience and 
 knowledge from Mr. Robin's sage counsels and advice. 
 He was now able to fly about alone ; and, unlike poor 
 wilful Bobby, he would not listen to any bird that 
 wanted to entice him away, or to get him into mis-
 
 84 THE ROBINS' NEST. 
 
 chief; but the very moment he saw his danger, he 
 would stretch his strong young wings, and fly away ; 
 never even stopping to look either to the right or left, 
 till he perched on the twig at his old garden home. 
 Over hedges and ditches, fields and cottages, common 
 and lane, on he went, straight as the old crow flies. 
 
 One afternoon our hird friend had heen away beyond 
 his usual time in search of the most delicate insects 
 for his invalid sister. This was one of his favourite 
 occupations ; for he dearly loved Weeney. 
 
 On his return, he was startled to see a little group 
 of friends assembled round their mid-day resting place. 
 His dear father and mother stood with their heads 
 bowed down on their breasts with grief ; their tails 
 drooped gloomily to the earth, and it was evident no 
 common sorrow was busy at their hearts. 
 
 Poor Chirp wept, and would not be pacified. The 
 thrush, in the laurel above their heads, chanted forth 
 a mournful song. The goldfinch hushed his low soft 
 notes ; and little Jenny Wren the 
 
 " Little Jenny Wren, that was sick upon a time, 
 And little Eobiu Kedbreast brought her cake and wine,"
 
 THE ROBINS NEST. 
 
 85 
 
 of which no doubt you have heard lifted up her wee 
 head out of the coxy hole in the ivy by their side, gave 
 three plaintive chirps, and, in soft tones, begged them 
 to be comforted ; whilst a grey-headed sparrow sobbed 
 aloud, as he remembered the kindness, once shown to 
 his poor wounded son by her the loving-hearted, gen- 
 tle Weeney who had, a few minutes before, bid adieu 
 for ever to the green fields, and blue skies, and glad 
 sunshine of this beautiful world. 
 
 Long they mourned their loss over the little lifeless 
 form of her they all so truly loved. 
 
 Suddenly, their grief was broken by the sound of 
 youthful feet on the gravel walk, and laughing voices 
 in the clear air ; and soon the curly heads and rosy 
 faces of the rectory children came in sight, as in high 
 glee, they chased some magnificent gold and purple 
 butterflies over the lawn, through the rose bushes, 
 down the gravel walks, here, there, and everywhere. 
 
 By and bye, little Emmeline espied the desolate 
 group of birds ; and, child like, peeped inquisitively to 
 see what they were all about. 
 
 The Robins knew the dear girl would not harm
 
 OO THE ROBINS NEST. 
 
 them ; they therefore only hopped away a step or two ; 
 but this movement was sufficient to reveal to the kind- 
 hearted child the stiff, lifeless body of Weeney. 
 
 Tenderly taking up the dead bird, she laid it in 
 her white pinafore, and called to a fine looking little 
 black-haired lad, at the other end of the lawn, " Come, 
 brother, come ! Here's a poor little dead robin in my 
 pinafore. I picked it up from under the bushes. 
 Make haste and see it ; how still it lies, with its bright 
 eyes shut ! " 
 
 Bounding towards her came the brother called, and 
 behind him Helena ; whilst Alfred and Fred brought 
 ap the rear. Gently were the soft feathers smoothed 
 dawn by their young fingers, as they looked on the 
 motionless robin. 
 
 " Poor little thing ! poor little thing !" they said, 
 tenderly, and in sorrowful tones. Emmeline sug- 
 gested, " Shall we dig the darling a little grave in our 
 own garden by the arbour, and bury the poor little 
 robin ?" 
 
 " Yes ! oh yes ! that we will !" exclaimed the chil- 
 dren at once. " I've got some pasteboard, that will 
 just do for a nice little box," eagerly chimed in Helena.
 
 THE ROBINS' NEST. 87 
 
 Then, at brother Herbert's suggestion, they ad- 
 journed to the summer house, and deposited the dead 
 bird in one corner, covered over with Fred's cap, while 
 the little girls went for the implements of labour. 
 Then they returned with, the much prized pasteboard, 
 needle, thread, and thimble. Alfred added a nice 
 piece of wool, to lay at the bottom of the box, to make 
 it " soft and comfortable," as he told them. 
 
 Oh ! how busy they were all in a minute ! and how 
 fast their tongues ran ! How soon the small, odd look- 
 ing box was stitched together ! How gently they laid 
 Weeney in her warm bed, aud then placed it on a long 
 piece of wood, which said piece of wood performed 
 many and various duties sometimes it was converted 
 into a seat, (and a very uneasy one I used to think 
 it) sometimes thrown over some stones that were piled 
 up close by, as a see-saw sometimes one thing, some- 
 times another. In the present instance, this most 
 accommodating piece of wood, as I before observed, 
 was turned into a litter ; and in the centre of which 
 was placed the small cardboard box, containing the 
 dead body of little Weeney.
 
 88 THE ROBINS' NEST. 
 
 How demurely the four children each held a corner 
 of this new-fashioned conveyance, as they walked along 
 the gravel path, until they regained their best garden 
 plot, and deposited the poor bird in its quiet rest- 
 ing-place in the hole dug by brother Herbert ! There, 
 overshadowed by the drooping flowers of the graceful 
 laburnum, and perfumed by the odour of the white and 
 purple lilac blossoms, sleeps gentle, loving Wceney ! 
 
 While the boys were filling up the tiny grave, they 
 observed some robins at a distance, watching their pro- 
 ceedings very attentively ; and for many a day after- 
 wards, when the children were digging near the spot, 
 a little robin would be hopping constantly about, grow- 
 ing so tame that he would even perch on Herbert's 
 spade, and pick up the worms and grubs, as he turned 
 them up from the newly dug earth. 
 
 To the present day, strange to relate, it is a favourite 
 resort of the redbreasts. They sit about poor Weeney's 
 grave, as if they knew it was her last resting-place ; 
 and who knows but that they are telling their young 
 nestlings of her gentle and obedient character of her 
 loving nature, and of her early death ? Who can tell
 
 THE ROBINS' NEST. 89 
 
 that they are not holding her up as an example of 
 kindness and imitation, for the time to come, to all 
 little hirds ; so that when they depart this life they 
 may be held up to admiration? Wtyit a delightful 
 thing it is to be so sweet and amiable, that all your 
 friends love you while you live, and weep over your 
 memory long after you have passed away ! 
 
 My dear little readers, Weeney was only a bird. 
 When her small body was put into the box, out of 
 sight in the earth, there was an end of her. But 
 when you are called away, though the same earth may 
 cover you up, there will not be an end of you. There 
 is a great difference between a little child and a little 
 bird. Ah ! a very great difference ! You have a never- 
 dying soul, which will be for ever blest, or for ever 
 miserable. Just think what a solemn thought this is 
 "I must live for ever in joy or woe! I have a soul 
 that never dies !" 
 
 Dear child, would you wish to live for ever in woe ? 
 Ah no ! no ! no ! Then go to the child's loving Friend 
 Go to Jesus to save you. He will do so. He died to 
 save you to save every little boy and girl from sin, 
 from sorrow, and from death.
 
 90 THE ROBINS' NEST. 
 
 See the kind Shepherd, Jesus, stands 
 With all-engaging charms ; 
 
 Hark ! how he calls the tender lambs, 
 And folds them in his arms. 
 
 The feeblest lamb amidst the flock 
 
 Shall be its Shepherd's eare ; 
 While, folded in the Saviour's arms, 
 They're safe from every snare.
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 NOTHING of importance occurred to our Robins after 
 Weeney's early death. Their two remaining children, 
 Chirp and Whistle, profited by the advice of their dear 
 parents, and tried to follow in their footsteps. 
 
 The latter, as he grew older, saw the folly and fool- 
 ishness of thinking so highly of himself, and of setting 
 so much value on his fine voice ; so he became a 
 modest, retiring, well-informed bird, using his musical 
 notes, not fcv his own gratification, but for the pleasure 
 of others; hence, "Young Whistle Robin" was always 
 considered a great attraction at all the little morning 
 and evening concerts given by the surrounding birds. 
 
 At the rectory he was a " dear, darling redbreast ;" 
 and many a village child would stop, on her way to 
 school, to listen to his song, and admire his fina 
 plumage. 
 
 In the spring following the death of Weeney, he 
 took unto himself a mate t such a sweet little thing !
 
 92 THE ROBINS' NEST. 
 
 and when they built their nest, they still clung to the 
 favourite old spot, and loved the beautiful garden, and 
 pleasant old church ; and they taught their little ones 
 to be good and happy, to love each other, and be duti- 
 ful, obedient birds. 
 
 So attached, indeed, is " Mr. Whistle" to the village 
 where so many days of his happy bird-childhood were 
 passed, that he has taught his children to love all con- 
 nected with it. In fact, I don't believe the race of 
 Redbreasts will ever be extinct in the neighbourhood. 
 
 I have not said very much of Miss Chirp, except 
 that she "tried" to be very kind-hearted; always 
 anxious to do good to the little birds around her ; help- 
 ing the weak, giving a kind chirp to those in trouble : 
 but, especially, using her best and sweetest note, in 
 teaching those of her young feathered friends, who had 
 lost their parents, or were unmindful of their offspring, 
 the comfort and importance of singing their eai'liest 
 song to that great and glorious God who made them, 
 and placed them in this beautiful world, amid flowers 
 and shrubs of every kind ; warming them with the 
 bright beams of His sun, as it rides through the
 
 THE ROBINS' NEST. 93 
 
 heavens ; lighting them at night with the mild rays 
 of His silvery moon ; sheltering them by night and 
 by day, with the thick and leafy foliage of trees and 
 hedges, mossy banks, reeds, and rushes ; and quench- 
 ing their thirst in the little running rills, meandering 
 streams, and silent pools. 
 
 My dear children, do you remember, every morning, 
 this kind, this bountiful Creator? Do you lift up 
 your hearts in love to him ? Do you give Him your 
 first, early song of prayer and praise ? And do you 
 remember Him, when the gentle curtain of night is 
 folded around the earth, ere you lay down your little 
 heads to rest on your warm pillows ? Do you remem- 
 ber to thank Him for his care, and goodness, and pro- 
 tection through the past day? If you have ever for- 
 gotten this song of love and praise, pray that you may 
 not forget it in future ; seek to be guided aright, so 
 that the words of your mouth may be acceptable to 
 God ; praising Him for " His goodness, His wonder- 
 ful works to the children of men." 
 
 To return to Miss Chirp Robin. It is a good thing 
 to try, aye, a good thing to try again, and AGAIN. It is
 
 94 THE ROBINS' NEST. 
 
 a good thing to be kind hearted : it is a blessed thing. 
 All little children should ever recollect this ; and strive 
 and pray to become like Him, who was "meek and 
 lowly in heart," and very tender to the lambs of His 
 fold. And Miss Chirp was quite right in wishing and 
 striving to do good, and to help others. But Miss 
 Chirp had failings ; she was not always good ; she had 
 to try again, and again. 
 
 I am always sorry to record the faults and miscon- 
 duct of others ; in this instance, that is, in again 
 reverting to Chirp, I only speak of her's by way of 
 warning to any dear girl who may read this story. 
 Miss Chirp Redbreast was I blush to record the 
 fact inclined to be very slovenly and untidy. For 
 example after her dear parents would have left the 
 nest, or the sheltering ivy, neat as a new pin, she 
 would feather herself, and allow the down and dust to 
 fly all about their clean resting-place ; just as I have 
 seen little girls leave their combs and brushes out of 
 place, and laying about. Then she would drop the 
 food off her beak, and never think to wipe it away. 
 
 Now, really, I do say, if there is one thing more
 
 THE ROBINS' NEST. 95 
 
 unpleasant than another, it is to see young people 
 aye, and grown up people too, for that matter slovenly 
 at meals. Depend upon it, whenever you find this the 
 case, they are negligent in everything else. Untidy 
 heads of hair untidy frocks and pinafores untidy 
 shoes untidy stockings about their heels untidy 
 everything ! 
 
 I knew a little girl \vho is now growing a great 
 girl who, I grieve to say, from not striving against 
 this habit of slovenliness, never knows where to put 
 her hand upon a thing in her possession. She can 
 never find her thimble or her needle and if, perchance, 
 she does find them, sure as sure can be, she cannot 
 find her cotton, or scissors ; and frequently I have 
 seen her wasting precious hours hunting for her goods 
 and chattels hours, which might have been employed 
 so much better ! " A place for every thing, and every 
 thing in its place," is an excellent maxim. 
 
 I sometimes think that if a prize had been given at 
 the Great Exhibition to the writer of children's books, 
 who "leaves off about the story, to tell something else," 
 I should have obtained that prize. Somehow, I cannot
 
 96 THE ROBINS' NEST. 
 
 help running off the course, like self-willed ponies do 
 at times. 
 
 I cannot refrain bringing into my tale, little, old- 
 fashioned, odd pieces of memory; and now, even at the 
 risk of being called a " tiresome old thing " by some 
 Master Jack, or Miss Lucy, I must just tell an anecdote 
 of a little girl, that comes and I am sure I never 
 invited it pop ! into my mind. For convenience sake 
 I shall call her Laura, but remember that was not her 
 real name. 
 
 "Laura, my love, do not forget to run on the little 
 piece of braid you tore off your frock when you were 
 trying it on," exclaims the watchful mother to Miss 
 Laura. 
 
 " Never fear, mamma dear ; I will be sure to do it 
 before I dress for the evening," replied the young lady, 
 tripping gaily into the drawing-room with what seemed 
 like a basket of flowers, to decorate the vases, etc. 
 
 " Have you done that little piece of work yet, dar- 
 ling ? " again demands mamma, a few hours later. 
 
 " No, mamma, but I shall be sure not to forget it," 
 answered the busy maiden ; and of course she did not
 
 THE ROBIN'S* NEST. 97 
 
 mean to " forget it," but a disastrous habit of " doing 
 it by and bye," when it ought to be done at once, did 
 all the mischief. 
 
 The clock strikes nine ! All within the house is 
 light, and joy, and gladness. Carriages rattle up to 
 the door, and deposit cargoes of life and beauty, to 
 rattle away again to make room for others. 
 
 dear ! I quite forgot to tell you there is to be a 
 graud party to-night. It is the birthday of Laura's 
 eldest brother, and " fine doings " are " going on," as 
 the villagers declare one to another. 
 
 1 should just like to let you all peep "inside. 1 
 What grand old pictures, in grand old frames! What 
 glittering ornaments, scattered about ! What inspirits 
 ing strains of music, and what heaps, and heaps of 
 flowers ; dear, darling, precious flowers ! Then, too 
 what greetings, among the " young ladies !" and what 
 shaking of hands, and bowings, and scrapings, among 
 the " young gentlemen !" " Who but they ?" as the 
 page remarks to Anne, the under nursemaid ! 
 
 Ah ! there are sweet young faces there ; fair, young 
 forms, and, no doubt, loving hearts ! I love to think so.
 
 ab THE KOBINS KEST. 
 
 Well, all goes on " merry as a wedding bell " for 
 a while ; but by and bye, in the very middle of a game 
 of forfeits, there is a loud noise, something between a 
 tumble, a scramble, and a scream, outside in the hall ! 
 
 In less than a second, troops of youngsters gather 
 round the cause of the alarm no less a personage 
 than Miss Laura herself who has caught her foot in 
 the wandering braid, and tumbled down stairs ; provi- 
 dentially, with no other injury to herself, than that of 
 knocking out one of her beautiful front teeth against 
 the corner of the rail, on which she came down plump. 
 I was going to say, " serves her right," but that is a 
 hard, mean feeling ; and really I never liked Laura so 
 well, in all her " growing up," as I did on that night ; 
 when, suppressing the pain she must have felt, with 
 noble heroism, she frankly and candidly told all her 
 young friends the cause of her disaster. 
 
 Dear girl ! many and many a sermon did that va- 
 cant place in her pretty mouth preach to her, I can 
 tell you ; and at the present time, there is not a more 
 primitive, orderly creature in the village of . 
 
 I must not tull the name of the village, or you may
 
 THE ROBINS' NEST. 93 
 
 guess her's also, and that will never do. I wish to 
 keep it secret ; so pray do not walk up to any charming 
 young friend of your acquaintance, who has had the 
 misfortune to loss one of her front teeth, and whisper, 
 " Pray, are you Miss Laura, that tumbled down stairs 
 on your brother Peter's birthday, and knocked out your 
 tooth T for, I repeat, Laura was not her real name. 
 
 My dear little girl, are you tidy ? It is a plain ques- 
 tion ; but I am a plain person, and I love little people 
 dearly, and dislike to see them slovens, and that is the 
 real truth. Now if conscience whispers, "You know, 
 Mary, or Jane, or Louisa, or Anne you often vex 
 your patient mother by your untidiness, and disobey 
 her wishes, when she is anxious to make you a neat, 
 tidy child ?" Pray resolve from this moment to give 
 up all your careless habits, and be henceforth as neat 
 and nice, as " a new dolly out of a band-box." 
 
 In coming back to Miss Chirp Redbreast, I repeat 
 I am sorry to speak of her failings : but there is no 
 such thing as perfection, whether in birds or children. 
 The best of birds is but a bird at best. As it may give 
 you a hint, my reader, I will just briefly tell you the
 
 100 THE KOBINS' NEST. 
 
 wise steps Mrs. Robin Redbreast took to cure her some- 
 what wilful daughter. 
 
 Of course, after the usual friendly calls had been 
 made with all the neighbouring families, an exchange 
 of those civilities took place ; and there was a very 
 well-informed, well-behaved brood, the offspring of 
 Roseate Redbreast, Esq., with which Chirp was anxious 
 to be acquainted; indeed they were looked upon as 
 some of the best people in the trees and hedges. 
 
 Well, one morning Chirp had been unusually lazy 
 and untidy. She had never feathered herself, nor 
 wiped her beak ; in short, she had not properly dressed 
 after breakfast, nor before, though she had sundry com- 
 mands to " go and make herself neat." As she paid 
 no attention to her mother's wishes, but seemed drowsy 
 and idle, she vras very wisely sent out of the nest, 
 with strict orders " not to return until she had obeyed 
 the commands of her parent." Chirp very reluctantly 
 obeyed. She had half a mind to be pert ; and I be- 
 lieve her mother had to speak twice before she moved. 
 
 Now just mark how disobedience ever brings its own 
 punishment. As soon as Miss Chirp got outside the
 
 THE ROBINS' NEST. 101 
 
 nest, she took wing, and flew about twenty yards away, 
 and perched on the twig of a cherry tree in the rectory 
 garden, taking care, however, to keep the nest in sight, 
 arid then she went off to sleep. 
 
 About half-an-hour after her departure, who should 
 make their appearance but Mr. and the Misses Roseate 
 Redbreast? After the usual kind enquiries respecting 
 the health of their families, Mrs. Roseate Redbreast 
 asked for Miss Chirp, and spoke of her graceful form, 
 and gentle, kind manners. Mrs. Robin told them the 
 truth, that she was " not at home" but, like a good 
 mother as she was, she never told them ivhy hoping 
 the lesson and the disappointment would do her 
 daughter more good than exposing her faults to these 
 young favourites, who evidently were pleased to be 
 the acquaintances of a family so intimate at the rec- 
 torv, and other places of distinction. 
 
 After a little while these friends took their departure, 
 begging Mrs. Robin Redbreast to bring Miss Chirp 
 very soon to spend a long evening with them, while 
 Mrs. Roseate looked back, and said, " We shall be 
 happy to see Mr. Whistle also ; we admire his voice
 
 102 THE ROBINS' NEST. 
 
 exceedingly, and Mr. Roseate thinks him amongst the 
 most agreeable birds of the country." 
 
 Poor Chirp ! Fancy her annoyance when she learnt 
 that the young ladies she had so long sighed to meet 
 had been at the nest ! She came to grief, indeed, 
 especially when she heard " they are such nice, well- 
 behaved birds." However, it was a lesson to her, I 
 promise you. From that time forth she resolved to 
 try more heartily to conquer her bad habit, and I am 
 glad to tell j'ou she succeeded ; as all may succeed 
 who say, relying on God's help, " It shall be done." 
 
 I think that perhaps the death of poor Weeney had 
 a solemn, softening effect on Chirp, and helped to make 
 her more watchful and obedient. She felt her loss 
 deeply, and resolved to become a comfort to her mother, 
 now that her sister was no more. So she grew up a 
 lovely lady bird, and remained with her parents at the 
 old home during the following winter. 
 
 When the snow flakes fell, and ; ' the old woman was 
 plucking her geese," as children say, and covering the 
 earth with a spotless robe, Chirp would wing her way 
 to the little scarlet holly tree, and sing her most cheer-
 
 THE KOBINS' NEST. 103 
 
 ful song quite certain that she would be well provided 
 for by the little people at the old nursery window. 
 Then, when the little stars came out, " twinkling one 
 by one," 
 
 "Up above the world so high, 
 Like a diamond in the sky " 
 
 and when the moon rose higher and higher on her 
 silvery track, Chirp would think of her happy nest in 
 the dear quiet old church, and shelter herself in the 
 thick ivy opposite her favourites' window. 
 
 She seemed to know every one of the rectory chil- 
 dren, especially little curly-headed Emmeline, whose 
 clear, ringing laugh, and whose sweet little voice 
 "Bobby! Bobby! darling bird! here are plenty of 
 crumbs for your dinner " filling her with delight. 
 Sometimes she would amuse herself by peeping through 
 the curtains at the bright fire-light within, listening to 
 the cracking logs of wood, and the blazing fir cones. 
 
 Then, after the winter was past, gradually she would 
 wateh the light fade away. The curfew from the 
 church tower would strike, proclaiming that eight
 
 104 THE KOBTNS' NEST. 
 
 o'clock was come ; and as its echoes died away, she 
 would creep still further into the ivy, and tucking her 
 little head under her wing, would betake herself to 
 rest, with loving thoughts and kindly feelings towards 
 every one ; and soon her lids closed, and she slept 
 soundly. 
 
 Early in the following spring Chirp left her pai-ental 
 home, as the happy wife of Mr. Hotspur Redbreast, 
 the second son of Roseate Redbreast, Esq., of whom 
 mention has been made. They built themselves one 
 of the neatest, loveliest nests ever seen; and in due 
 time four little baby birds gladdened their hearts, and 
 gave them plenty of employment. I doubt not but 
 Mi-s. Hotspur Redbreast took especial pains to render 
 her children neat and tidy, remembering her own early 
 lessons, and that she trained them to be happy, good, 
 and useful. 
 
 Our first friends, Mr. and Mrs. Robin, enjoyed ft 
 good old age, beloved and respected by all who knew 
 them ; and at last they were buried near the spot 
 where their darling Weeney rested, and where neither 
 owl, nor hawk, nor even cream-loving Dora, could get 
 at them.
 
 THE ttOBINS* NEST. 105 
 
 Now I doubt not but my little readers are all wish- 
 ing to know what became of the nest that was built in 
 the desk of the dear old church. Carefully covered 
 over by a glass shade, it stands, at this moment, in my 
 drawing-room, one of the most valued treaures there, 
 I assure you. No dust, nor mischievous little fingers 
 are ever allowed to touch it. It is far too precious ! 
 And if any of my young readers would like to see it, 
 they are quite welcome to come to the rectory, and I 
 will not only show that to them, but also the old 
 church, the ancient Bible, and the curious yew branch 
 growing out, so remarkably, from the tower. 
 
 And, moreover, if any of you, dear children, on a 
 Sabbath morning, should wend your steps towards, 
 and enter the quiet village church, you will most pro- 
 bable renew your acquaintance with the once " little 
 Herbert," who dug poor Weeney's grave, but who is 
 now the beloved curate, and helper of the old rector. 
 The once happy boy is now the happy husband, the 
 faithful pastor, the poor's friend ! 
 
 And now, my dear young friends, ere I conclude, let 
 me ask, for what purpose, think you, have I written
 
 106 THE ROBINS' NEST. 
 
 this story ? Why have I looked back upon bygone 
 years, filled with so many memories, and why have I 
 recalled them ? Do you think it was simply to amuse 
 you, or to make the dull hours of a dull day pass less 
 heavily ? Not so, dear children. I desire to improve 
 you, to help your good resolutions, and make you glean 
 from history many a useful lesson, many a kindly 
 precept. Do not, then, lay aside the book without a 
 serious thought, and earnest prayer to be made good, 
 obedient, loving children. 
 
 Learn, while in the house of prayer and praise, to 
 reverence your gracious and merciful Heavenly Father ; 
 and ask Him to help you to become like His dear 
 Son, " who did no sin, neither was guile found in His 
 mouth," who loves and cares for all little children, and 
 even for birds. Look at the eighty-fourth Psalm, and 
 the third verse, and read what the Book says about it: 
 I think that is a very beautiful verse. 
 
 There is another verse I am very fond of, where the 
 blessed Saviour tells the unbelieving people He came to 
 save, that " He would have gathered them as a hen 
 gathers her brood under her wings, but they would
 
 THE ROBINS' NEST. 107 
 
 not." Would not ! Oh ! what a sad and fearful 
 thought ! They WOULD NOT go to Him the loving 
 merciful gracious One to be saved from everlasting 
 sorrow and suffering ! 
 
 Did you ever watch the little chickens, frightened, 
 perhaps, at seeing a cruel hawk in the air, or a stealthy 
 cat in the farm yard, how they run chirping and terri- 
 fied to their anxious mother? And did you ever notice 
 how glad she seemed, when she had them all safe under 
 her warm, sheltering wing ? 
 
 Then, too, did you ever notice how distressed and 
 agitated she becomes, if one little nestling has wan- 
 dered beyond the others, and cannot get back to its 
 own safe place ? Ah ! that is just like the loving 
 Saviour. He sees the hawk that great enemy, " the 
 devil, who goeth about seeking whom he may devour " 
 among children, as well as among grown-up people ; 
 and the kind Lord of angels stretches forth his hand, 
 and says, " Come unto me ; I will shelter, and save 
 you !" 
 
 And again, if one little wanderer strays away, and 
 is led into sin, and finds the way hard and bitter, how
 
 108 THE ROBINS' NEST. 
 
 anxious He is till it is once more safe in His arms ! 
 This reminds me of that most lovely of all written 
 stories, about 'the " Lost Sheep." You will find it in 
 the fifteenth chapter of St. Luke. 
 
 Dear child, will you not be among the little ones who 
 run to the outstretched arms of Jesus ? Will you not 
 give Him your heart ? Will you not make haste, and 
 " hide yourself in his tender bosom ?" Oh ! do ! No 
 sorrows shall harm you there. No " hawk " shall ter- 
 rify you there. No storms or tempests shall over- 
 whelm you there. And even death -that foe alike of 
 all shall not harm you there, for 
 
 "Jesus can mate the dying bed 
 Softer than downy pillows are." 
 
 Dear, dear child, come to Jesus, and He will make 
 you happy as the days are long. 
 
 Farewell ! May we meet in that bright land, 
 where all is joy, and peace, and love ; where, clothed 
 in the white robe of the Saviour's righteousness, we 
 may shine as the stars for ever and ever ! 
 
 FAREWELL !
 
 tlje same 
 
 TENTH THOUSAND. 
 
 MAY-DAY IN OUR VILLAGE. 
 
 PRICE ONE SHILLING. 
 
 Some one says, " The children of the present generation are the powers 
 of the age to come. If therefore properly trained, they may be a blessing 
 to their neighbourhood, their nation, and the world." This interesting 
 little history may be instrumental in giving warning, instruction, and cou- 
 solation, to mothers and to children. I hope it will have a wide circula- 
 tion. W. MARSH, D.D. 
 Beckenham Rectory, Kent, March 20, 1S62. 
 
 JUST PUBLISHED, 
 
 ONLY A SCRATCH; 
 
 AND 
 
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 FOUNDED ON FACT. 
 PBICE ONE SHILLING. 
 
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