The birds, the dear, beautiful birds, that come in the sweet spring
time to build their nests among the fresh green leaves and fragrant
blossoms of our home trees! How glad we are to see them! The little
children love the birds. No _kind_ and _gentle_ boy will rob their
pretty eggs or their tender young. But you may be happy in watching
their graceful forms and varied colors, as they glide through the air
or hop about on the ground. Our heavenly Father made them, and they
praise him in their many toned songs. He feeds them, and teaches us
thus to trust in his care. The God that provides for the birds will
not forget you, for the Saviour says, “Ye are of more value than many
sparrows.”
I always like to see children making acquaintance with the birds. If
they watch their habits, they will learn some important lessons. I
have been interested in some observations which a little friend of
mine has recently made, and which she has told in her first school
composition. It is as follows:—
“My dear Schoolmates,—I would like to tell you a story. A little
chipping bird built a nest on a peach tree, near our kitchen window.
It was a soft, pretty nest, lined with hair. A naughty little wren,
wishing to build herself a nest, instead of looking about to find
straws and hair, comes every day and takes them from the chipping
bird’s nest. I think I shall not love her as much as I did before. I
think I shall call her a little _thief_, instead of a little wren. I
think little children should learn a lesson from the birds, and not
take what does not belong to them, for they will be called thieves,
and no one will love them if they do.”
[Illustration: Bird standing on ground.]
[Illustration: Child running with arms out pretending to fly.]