bobs on the road to
Millport!" said Cousin Phineas. "So you may have your choice!"

"Let us try the sumach bobs!" said Mrs. Robin. "I have not tasted one
this season! They must be delicious after this hard frost!"

A railroad wound along the mountain side, and its right of way was lined
with sumach bushes whose upper twigs were red with the crimson bobs, and
it was here that Cousin Phineas brought Robert Robin's family.

"These are very fine sumach bobs!" said Robert Robin. "They are the
finest I ever tasted!"

"Their rich flavor comes from the engine smoke! This railroad has the
best smoke of any railroad in this part of the country! Nothing
improves the flavor of a sumach bob like nice black smoke!"

"I found a stone in my sumach bob!" shouted little Sheldon.

"Hush! Child! It is nothing but a cinder!" said Cousin Phineas. "And
cinders are good for coughs! But I would not eat too many of them. They
are hard to digest!"

When all the robins had eaten as many sumach bobs as they cared for,
Robert Robin said:

"Cousin Phineas, we have enjoyed our stay with you, but it is a long way
to the south, so we must hurry along!"

And Cousin Phineas said: "I wish that you had time to stay a week, but I
know that you must be in a hurry so I will not coax you to stay this
time, but now that you have found the way, you must come and see me
often. Be sure and stop when you come back in the Spring. You will find
me around here somewhere. I am planning to spend the winter in Elmira
and vicinity!"

"Good-by, Cousin Phineas!" said Robert Robin. "Good-by, Cousin
Phineas!" said all the rest, and away they flew into the sky, and soon
all that Cousin Phineas could see of them was ten tiny dots against a
high gray cloud.

"Swish! Swish! Swish!" went the sound of wings against the still, thin
air. Below Robert Robin and his family the valley of the river widened
into fertile farm lands. The glitter of the polished steel of the
railroad rails flashed to their eyes under the rays of the morning sun.

"This is going to be a fine day for our trip!" said Mrs. Robin.

"It couldn't be better!" said Robert Robin. "There is just enough breeze
to help in our flying; we should reach the great bay before night!"

The youngster robins were very much interested in seeing the new
country. The valley continued to widen beneath them, villages and cities
appeared, and great locomotives, puffing clouds of smoke, pulled long
trains, and pierced th