d up; the
father brought her dew to wash in and to drink, and flew far and wide to
find ripe berries for her to eat; while the young birds were never tired
of hearing her sing, watching her dance on the edge of the nest, or
learning the pretty plays she taught them. Every one was very kind and
waited patiently to see what would come. But when at last the little
birds flew away, the parents wanted to go with them, and did not like to
leave Bud all alone.

"I'm not afraid," she said, "for now I am strong enough to take care of
myself. All the birds know me, and I shall not be lonely. Carry me down
to the grass below, and let me run about and find my own food and
clothes as your children do. I won't forget you, but you need not
trouble about me any more."

So Papa Linnet took her on his back, as often before, and flew down to
the softest place below, and there they left her with a tender good-by;
for they had to watch over their young ones, who were trying their wings
and wandering far and wide.

"I shall be taken care of as the flowers are," said Bud, when she found
herself sitting on a pebble beside the path that went through the
pleasant wood, full of happy little creatures busy with their work or
play.

"I wish I were a bird, then I could fly about and see the world; or a
fairy, then I could do splendid things; or even a flower for some one to
love and carry away. I wonder what I was made for, and what I can
do,--such a little thing in this great world! I'm sure I don't know; but
I can be happy and kind, and try to help all I see, then I shall make
friends and not feel lonely very long."

As she said this, brave Bud looked about her to see whom she could help
first, and spied an ant tugging a large white bundle along. It looked as
if he were taking clothes to some fairy washerwoman; but the bundle was
an egg, and the ant-nurse was bringing it up from the nest to lie awhile
in the warm sun to grow.

He told Bud all about it when she offered to help, and very gladly let
her watch this egg while he and the other nurses went down for many
more. Soon they lay all about in the quiet corner where the sun shone on
them, and Bud went to and fro, turning them, and keeping guard over
them lest some hungry bird should snap them up.

"Now I'm useful," she said, quite happy in her new work, though she was
only a nursery-maid, and had no wages but the thanks of the busy ants.
By and by the eggs were carried down, and she was