Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. ECCLESIASTES. Who gives to whom hath naught been given, WHITTIER. Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them. - ECCLESIASTES. I count this thing to be grandly true, That a noble deed is a step toward God,- To a purer air and a broader view. J. G. HOLLAND. Vice is a monster of so frightful mien, So nigh is grandeur to our dust, So nigh is God to man, When Duty whispers low, "Thou must," POPE. EMERSON. 44. The Robins. at-trǎet'ed, drawn, allured. com-pla'çen-çy, gratification. I. dom'i-çile, abode. lär'væ (sing. lär'va), grubs. 1. THE robin is one of our most familiar birds, and often makes its nest close to a house,-even on a pillar of the piazza. One pair built their nest for three summers in a basket suspended from the ceiling of my front piazza, where people were constantly coming and going. 2. During the winter, in Florida, we often see immense flocks that have migrated from the north. At this time they live peaceably together; but in the spring, when they return to their northern homes, all this is changed. 3. Now the males, which appear to be jealous of one another, have many fierce battles. One will pounce upon another, seemingly for no other reason than that he was singing his best, and had attracted a female to listen to him. After they have chosen their mates and homes they are more peaceable, yet no two pairs can agree to build in the same tree. 4. A large spruce stands near my back door, and this spring two pairs of robins selected this tree in which to erect their domiciles. They could not agree to settle the matter quietly, but had many bitter contests over it. I could almost pick them up as they tumbled over the ground. It seemed a little strange that the females never joined in the fight, for they alone build the nest, the males never assisting them. 5. The conqueror's mate now proceeds to construct the nest in the chosen tree, while the other selects a spruce on the lawn at another side of the house. Although two robins cannot agree to build in the same tree, yet a brown thrush and a robin have made their homes not three feet apart, on this tree at the back door, and both are now feeding their young, and never have any quarrels. 6. I have large pans set in the earth, and these are kept filled with fresh water for the birds to bathe in. It was very dry while the robins were building, and when they collected the material for the nests they would take it to the bath-dishes and hold it in the water until it was well soaked. In this way it was rendered pliable, and the birds were able to work it in with the mud. of 7. I found they were making sad havoc with some my plants that had just been set out. They were after the moist earth: so I had a quantity of damp clay placed near one of the baths; and this they seemed to think much better, for they disturbed my plants no more. II. 8. With the exception of the catbird, I have found the robin more willing to be on a friendly footing with me than any other bird. Yet there is a great difference in individuals. Some are always shy and reticent, while others are much more bold and inquisitive, and inclined to be quite confidential. 9. I noticed one in the chip-yard digging out large white grubs, — the larvae of the May-beetle. She seemed to know just where to find one before she began to dig; yet sometimes she found it quite difficult to extract the larva, the chips being packed in with the earth. 10. Accordingly I cautiously proceed to assist her. I dig one out and throw it towards her: she soon finds it. I repeat this several times: she soon learns my friendly intentions, and brings her mate to share my hospitality. In a short time I cannot go in the direction of the chip-yard but she is sure to see me, and comes hopping around me, asking to be served, almost as familiarly as a chicken. 11. She proved, however, to be a very poor architect; for she built a slovenly kind of mud nest, spending but very little time over it. Still, she does not forget me: on the contrary, her confidence and friendliness increase, and she seems to be highly gratified that I take an interest in her young household, even flitting close to me, and giving out little notes of complacency when I feed them. 12. Not so with her partner. He is more wary― probably he has had more experience with the ways of mankind so he looks upon me as an intruder, and gives warning notes of danger when I approach too near the nest. This always brings the female; but instead of joining him in cries of alarm, she seems to reprove him for calling her to look after me, and goes on her way with no apparent anxiety. 13. After a while the male did not give the alarmnote: still, he looks at me suspiciously, and hops about with food in his mouth, and will not feed the young till I have moved to a safe distance. Meanwhile the female proceeds to the nest as unconcernedly as though I were not present. If a cat ventures on the premises she gives quick, short notes of alarm until I come to the rescue, when she flies to the next tree, fully satisfied that I will look after the cat. 14. She is not so good a provider for the young as the male, nor does her judgment seem to be as good as his. On one occasion she came to the nest with a large worm, fully three inches in length, and as thick as my finger, and went through the ridiculous farce of trying to make each of the gaping mouths take it in. Finding they could not swallow it, she flew with it to the hard carriage-drive and pounded it against the ground till it was quite limp. 15. The male passed from the nest, stopped and looked at her a moment, but without making any |