The Tupelo journal., 1908-09-25
THE BOB-WHITE FAMILY.
How Molly Won Their Confidence by
Patience and G~entIeness.

D little birds do just as their ia
theirs and mothers do?" questioned
Molly, as she leaned close to Aunt
Elinor, and looked across the field to
where "Bob-White" and his family
had established a summer home.
Not always" replied Aunt Elinor,
slipping her arm about the little girl.
sometimes they learn by their own
experience to have more confidence
in men and women and children than
their parents had"
What is confidence?" questioned
Molly, who always wanted the mean
ing of things.
We'll it's just the feeling you have
when you lean up against me- ex-
planned Aunt Elinor, with a little
laugh. you are sure l won't hurt
you, and you feel safe, as though you
were protected"
oh, yes responded Molly. And
do some birds feel that way when they
are near people,
Aunt Elinor nodded. "In countries
where children are taught to be gentle
and friendly with birds they become
very tame"
Would those little Bob-Whites ever
have confidence in me?" asked Molly.
Yes, indeed said Aunt Elinor.
And that very day Molly went across
the field to where Mrs. Bob-White was
perched on the low fence, talking to
her little family.
Molly did not go very near She sat
down on a big stone, where she could
see them plainly: but Mrs. White
f1uttered off the fence and joined her
family, and they all scuttled away in
the tall grass. Molly sat very quietly,
and scattered the little bag of wheat
she had brought all about the rock.
After awhile, as the birds did not
come back, she went home.
The next day she started down the
field again, for Aunt Elinor had told
her that she must be very patient
with all small wild creatures, and
that it would take many visits before
the quailS would know that she was a
friend. AS she came near the rock
where she had sat the day before.
there was a futter of wings, and
Mother Quail flew off her perch on
the fence, and Molly heard a low,
%plaintive "Quoi-i-hee!" from the little
birds; but they did not follow their
mother very far. Molly sat down in
the grass, and saw the little birds pick
IN tho SWppt ppaipC Of Whaot. md
Mother Quail, after a few scolding
notes, came back to her family. But
she hoped about n%ervously, or made
little upward flights.
Molly was sure that the birds were
beginning to know her. This time she
rock; and every day for two weeks
she came faithfully to visit the Bob
Whites. By this time they began to
look for her, and these widest of wild
birds had learned what their parents
had not known-confidence in human
beings. Aunt Elinor would sit on the
porch and watch Molly go across the
field, and see little Bob-Whites come
almost within reach of her little
niece's hand. Sometimes they would
even follow Molly a little way toward
the house in the most loving and fear
less manner, although their doubtful
mother called warningly after her fam
lily, as though she had not conquered
all her fears, or as though she would
teach them not to be too ready to
trust.
They have learned something their
mother doesn't know, haven't they,
Aunt Elinor?" Molly declared, happily,
as she looked back toward the birds,
and remembered what Aunt Elinor
had told her of the meaning of the
word "confidence."-Youth's Compan-
ion.