The Bird of the Morning.
Yes, my dear readers, I am the bird of the morning. Very few of you rise
early enough to hear my first song. By the time you are awake our little
ones have had their breakfast, Mrs. Robin and I have had our morning
bath and we are all ready to greet you with our morning song.
I wonder if any of you have seen our nest and can tell the color of the
eggs that Mrs. Robin lays. Some time I will let you peep into the nest
and see them, but of course you will not touch them.
I wonder, too, if you know any of my cousins--the Mocking bird, the
Cat-bird or the Brown Thrush--I think I shall ask them to have their
pictures taken soon and talk to you about our gay times.
Did you ever see one of my cousins on the ground? I don't believe you
can tell how I move about. Some of you may say I run, and some of you
may say I hop, and others of you may say I do both. Well, I'll tell you
how to find out. Just watch me and see. My little friends up north won't
be able to see me though until next month, as I do not dare leave the
warm south until Jack Frost leaves the ground so I can find worms to
eat.
I shall be about the first bird to visit you next month and I want you
to watch for me. When I do come it will be to stay a long time, for I
shall be the last to leave you. Just think, the first to come and last
to leave. Don't you think we ought to be great friends? Let us get
better acquainted when next we meet. Your friend,