sted in birds and I heard David say the other day that he hadn't
seen a red bird this summer, that they must be getting scarce around
this section. So I thought I'd come up and tell you about it. I know it
is bright red. Do you want to come out and try to find it again, Aunt
Barbara?"

"Not now, Phares. I have been in the sun so much to-day that my head
aches."

"Would you care to see it?" he asked Phoebe in visible hesitation.

She answered eagerly, her passionate love of birds mastering her
embarrassment. "I'd love to, Phares! I am anxious to see whether it's a
tanager or a cardinal. I have never seen a cardinal."

South of David Eby's cornfield stretched a strip of woodland. There
blackberry brambles tangled about the bases of great oaks and the
entire woods--trees and brambles--made an ideal nesting-place for birds.

"Perhaps it's gone," said the preacher as they went along to the woods.

"But it's worth trying for," she said.

They kept silent then; only the rustling of the corn was heard as the
two went through the green aisle. When they reached the woodland a
sudden burst of glorious melody came to them. Phoebe laid a hand
impulsively upon the arm of the preacher, but she removed it quite as
suddenly when he looked down at her and said, "Our bird!"

The bird, a scarlet tanager, aware of the presence of the intruders and
eager to attract attention to himself and safeguard his hidden mate,
flew to an exposed branch of an oak tree. There he displayed his
gorgeous, flaming scarlet body with its touch of black in wings and
tail.

"It's a tanager," said Phoebe. "Isn't he lovely!"

"Very fine," said the preacher. "What color is his mate? Is she red?"

"She's green, a lovely olive green. When she sits on the nest she's just
the color of her surroundings. If she were red like her mate she'd be
too easily destroyed."

"God's providence," said the preacher.

"It is wonderful--look, Phares, there he goes!"

The scarlet tanager made a streak of vivid color across the sky as he
flew off over the corn.

"I wonder if he trusts us or if his mate is not about," Phoebe said.
"He's a beauty, so is his mate in her green frock. A few minutes with
the birds can teach us a great deal, can't it?"

"Yes, Phoebe, here, right near your home, are countless lessons to be
learned and accomplishments to be acquired. Tell me, do you still wish
to go away to the city?"

"Certainly. I am going in September."

"You remember t