dbreast,
Singing on the bough,
Come and get your breakfast,
We will feed you now.
Robin likes the golden grain,
Nods his head and sings again:
'Chirping, chirping cheerily,
Here I come so merrily,
Thank you, children dear!'"

Thus sang Phyllis one morning during the second week in March.

In the topmost bough of the old apple-tree sat Robin Redbreast, looking
altogether doubtful as to whether he liked the little girl's song.

But when he saw the grains of wheat which the child was scattering on
the ground for his breakfast, he thought better of his doubt.

He hopped lower on the branches. He turned his little head on one side
and looked at Phyllis in a very friendly fashion.

"Come on down!" Phyllis begged. "I am so glad that you have returned.
I am so glad that you came to this very apple-tree and sang so strong
and loud and clear!"

"Chirp! Chirp!" and the robin hopped again nearer.

"You see," Phyllis went on, in her coaxing little voice, "my brother
Jack, being a boy, said he would be the one to see the first robin this
year.

"But I made up my mind that if watchful eyes and careful ears could
help a little girl, I would get ahead of Jack.

"Sure enough, the first thing I heard this morning was your sweet song.
When did you arrive? Aren't you rather early?"

By this time the robin was on the ground, pecking away at the grain.
As he ate his breakfast he told his story.

[Illustration: "By this time the robin was on the ground" (missing from
book)]

"I have been south all winter long," he said. "It is very lovely in
the southland. Food is plenty, the days are long, and the sunshine is
golden, bright, and warm.

"But as soon as the spring days came I grew restless. I knew the snow
was beginning to melt and the grass to grow green in my old home
country. I wanted to start north at once.

"I spoke to my little mate about it, and found her to be as homesick as
I. So we flew north a little earlier than usual this year, and arrived
ahead of the others. We are now quite anxious to get to housekeeping,
and are already looking for a suitable place for a nest."

"If you will build near us," said Phyllis, "I will help you care for
your little ones. I will give you all the crumbs that you can eat."

"Oh! oh!" chirped the robin; "you are very kind, Phyllis, but I hardly
think you would know how to feed bird babies.

"You see our babies are so fond of bugs and worms and al