at last flying up far out
of her reach. This he repeated day after day, for some time, seeming to
enjoy the fun of disappointing her so nicely and easily. But after a
while the little fellow thought he would like a play-mate nearer his own
size, and went off to find one. But he came back all alone, and perched
himself on the very tip-top of a lightning-rod on a high barn at the
back of the yard; and there he would sing his sweet little trilling
song, hour after hour, hardly stopping long enough to find food for his
meals. We wondered that he did not grow tired of it. For about a week we
watched him closely, and one day I came running into the house to tell
the rest of the family with surprise and delight that our little Wren
knew what he was about, for with his winning song he had called a mate
to him. He led her to the tree where he had played with pussy, and they
began building a nest; but pussy watched then as well as we, and meant
to have her revenge upon him yet, so she sprang into the tree, tore the
nest to pieces, and tried to catch Jenny. The birds rebuilt their nest
three times, and finally we came to their rescue and placed a box in a
safe place under the eaves of the house, and Mr. Wren with his keen,
shrewd eyes, soon saw and appropriated it. There they stayed and raised
a pretty family of birdies; and I hope he taught them, as he did me, a
lesson in perseverance I'll never forget."

[Illustration: From col. F. M. Woodruff.
RUBY-THROATED HUMMING BIRDS.
Copyrighted by Nature Study Pub. Co., 1897, Chicago.]

[Illustration: From col. F. M. Woodruff.
HOUSE WREN.
Copyrighted by Nature Study Pub. Co., 1897, Chicago.]

THE RUBY-THROATED HUMMING BIRD.

DEAR YOUNG FOLKS:

I fancy you think I cannot stop long enough to tell you a story, even
about myself. It is true, I am always busy with the flowers, drinking
their honey with my long bill, as you must be busy with your books, if
you would learn what they teach. I always select for my food the
sweetest flowers that grow in the garden.

Do you think you would be vain if you had my beautiful colors to wear?
Of course, you would not, but so many of my brothers and sisters have
been destroyed to adorn the bonnets and headdresses of the thoughtless
that the children cannot be too early taught to love us too well to do
us harm. Have you ever seen a ruby? It is one of the most value