262 CHILDREN'S BOOK .FOR SABBATH HOURS.

work ; but it is too busy to stop long for Imeanwhile with food. Soon the young
the sake of looking at us. The muscles woodpeckers make their appearance, and
of its head and neck are very strong, and begin their search for food, while mother
it is well they are, for they have a great and father look on well satisfied and well
amount of exercise. Sometimes it is rewarded. But, not always do matters
compelled to peck away half an hour be- get on so swimmingly with them, for
fore it can get at the brood of insects sometimes the house wren-would you
which it knows to be concealed under believe it-is so mean as to drive out
the bark or in the wood, and having se- the woodpeckers after the hole is cut and
cured this morsel, it soon begins to work dug, and take possession of it for his own
its way to another. It seems as if its little nest.
neck must ache, and its head be dizzy, This little woodpecker may teach us
and its bill sore, from such incessant ap- all the lesson of cheerfulness in toil. He
plication; but the little fellow makes no sings at his work, and is as happy as any
complaint, and we presume would not of the songsters which get their living
give a straw for our sympathy. more easily.
 The busiest time of all for these tiny The Red-headed Woodpecker is a great
creatures, is when they undertake to rear beauty, and a real lively fellow, too. We
a family. They know what work is, then, trust you have seen it occasionally, but
and no mistake. A tree is selected with it is not very common in New England.
great care by the happy couple, and after Very likely the farmers are glad that it
having been inspected again and again, is no more abundant; for we are pretty
the male bird cuts a round hole large sure they would talk against it; although
enough to admit his body. This hole it probably does them a great deal more
slants downward for a few inches, and good than harm. Its principal food is
then runs straight down nearly a foot, insects, and those kinds which are likely
and is much larger within than at the en- to do the greatest damage to trees. But
trance, and is also highly polished. What the gay and lively creature wishes a rel-
a labor to make it! When the male bird ish, now and then, of something outside
gets tired, the female takes hold, and so the most important bill of fare, and so it
they encourage each other in the task. looks out for nice strawberries and cher-
The chips are carried off some distance, ries, and takes a choice ripe apple or
as much as to say, We are not going to pear occasionally. It likes the soft In-
let people know where our nest is." But dian corn, and does not wait for it to be
the hole is at last finished, after a good roasted or boiled, but helps itself while
week's work; and soon six beautiful, the ear is yet milky on the stalk. Don't
snow-white eggs are laid, and mother- shoot the pretty creature because of
bird sits on them till they are hatched; these tricks. Very likely if it had not
the male, just as he ought, supplying her destroyed the insects on your fruit trees,