The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-04-28
FOR YOUNG FOLK

are always flying somewhere else"
why, dear" replied Mrs. Ewing.
sinking down into big rocking-cha
and gathering the little girl into her
arms. Il suppose the birds don't know
that you are just getting over the
sides. they probably have baby birds
at home and must hurry back to take
care OF them. But have a plan" sne
continued consolingly, that believe
will not only coax Robin Redbreast
and his entire family into our yard
where you can watch them. but many
other kinds Of birds too"
The sobs ceased at once. and Doro-
thy was out OF her mothers lap III
a jiffy. all a-tiptoe 10 know abou. the
fine plan.
Mrs. Ewing crossed to the pantry.
took down low, tiaring milk crock
about four inches high. and held it up
for Dorothy to gee. dorothy thought
1t didn't look like much of a plan.
"Thts crock" explained the little
girls mother, sunk in the ground 10
its rim out under the shady lilac bush,
and filled every day with cool, fresh
water, IL the plan. Birds mus. have
water. DEAR" she explained, land DUR
ing the heat of summer this Is oft3n
very hard for them to find. Now I
believe that. If water Is always to be
found here, 1t will make our yard a
very popular gathering place for
BIRDS
Together they carried out the crock
and put il in position under the lilac
hush, and then they filled IL with
water to within an inch of the top. The
r.sstn It must not be illed to the
brltr. Nra. Ewing explained. was that
the water must not be over three
inches deep or the birds might drown.
For three days Dorothy kept pa
tient watch by the window. During this
time, although many songBters flew
swiftly through the yard. none appar-
emily noticed the water. On the az
tcrnoon of tho third day. however.
Dorothy's mother heard her exclaim-
ing 3oyfuliy. Mamma. mamma. a
brown bird has Just flown into the
tree. and-yes. he Is really looking
down at the water!''
There was a long pause. and Mrs.
Ewing was beginning to wonder II
that bird had flown away again. when
the little girls voice once more rang
out, the words fairly tumhling over
each other this time.
20 mamma, mamma" she cried,
do hurry and come! The bird has
flown right down on the crock. and
and now he IL taking q long drink
OF the water" And in her excitemen,
Dorothy. rushed to her mother ana
pulled her to the window.
Ply thir time the bird had gone. but
in q few minutes he was back again.
making straight for tho water with
out the slightest hesitation. When he
actually Jumped into the very centre OF
the basin and proceeded to take bath.
spiashing the water in every direction,
Dorothy's delight knew no bounds
From this time on hardly an hour
Of the day pAssed throughout the
whole summer that birds were not en-
toying the water. Dorothy not only
he'd many happy hours watching the
little songsters, but she learned the
names OF the various bird callers. too.
and much about their habits.
The birds helped Dorothy to pass a
very DELIGHTFUL summer. But that
wasn't the best thing that resulted
from that day when Dorothy COM
rlAined because the birds never STAYED
In the yard. Dorothy herself knew
that wasn't the best thing. for ole
oftev, ssiR IN 49, .~-~+@~"---
why. the incest part Of It all II
that re are ~e.uv hr'rs~- TIE '1,t
--AHnlNe Thayer Thomson. In the
Continent