152

THE YOUTH’S CABINET.

 

blue-bird does; and I have known the
sly fellow come along just as the blue-
bird family had got settled, and watch-
ing an opportunity when the blue-birds
were away—perhaps calling on some
neighbors—enter the hole, pull the nest
all to pieces, and carry off the timber to
build his own nest. The provoking fel-
low! I have had a good mind to stone
him, more than once, while this mis-
chief was going on. The wren is no fa-
vorite of mine; he is so unamiable and
ill-tempered.

The blue-bird lays five, and sometimes
six eggs, of a pale blue color. I have
known boys steal the eggs of this charm-
ing bird; but I never had the heart to
do it. Moreover, I always had a very
low opinion of a boy who would do such
a thing; and I think now as I thought
then, that any boy or girl who takes
pleasure in robbing the nests of innocent
birds, exhibits a cruel disposition ; and I
am always afraid that this disposition will
show itself in their conduct toward man-
kind, as well as in their conduct toward
birds.

The principal food of these birds are
insects, particularly large beetles, and
worms, such as usually abound in the
heart of trees partially decayed. Spi-
ders, too, seem to afford them a very ac-
ceptable repast. In the fall of the year,
they often feed on berries.

The usual spring and summer song of
the blue-bird, as most of my readers
know, is a soft, agreeable, and oft-repeat-
ed warble. He is a remarkably good
neivhbor. I never heard of his quarrel-
ing and fighting with other birds.
Everyboyd ought to love him. Shall I
tell you, little boy—I mean you who
live in the country—how you can coax a

pair of them to build their nest under
your window, and wake you up in the
morning with their cheerful warbling ?
Save a few cents of the money that
you get, and then—that is, if your
father or older brother cannot attend to
the business—hire some carpenter to
make you a little house, one or two feet
square, with holes in it. Place this min-
iature house on a high post near your
window, or set it on the corn-house or
barn. Do it early in the spring, and you
may depend the blue-birds will see it,
and build their nest in it. If you have
two or three holes in the house, and as
many different partitions inside, perhaps
you will have two or three families of
blue-birds for you tenants. What do
you think of that plan, little friends ?
Can’t you afford to build such a house,
and give the blue-birds the use of it?
They will pay for the rent in music—my
word for it. Look at my friend in the
picture, sitting on the limb of his favorite
tree, trying to find a good place for his
nest. Look at him! See what a fine
countenance he has. Do you wonder
that I like him so well? “No, no,” you
all say; ‘I like the blue-bird as well as
you do.” Well, build a nice little cot-
tage for him, then.

Never hesitate to obey the orders of
those who are placed in authority over
you, always remembering that we must
stoop to rise.—True humility of mind is
of such great value, that no effort is tdo
great to obtain it.—Never lose your tem-
per by the faults of others, recollecting
how many faults you possess yourself.