Page:Story of the robins.djvu/191

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The Grove.
175

grove, for I wish you to see everything worth observation in everyplace you go to, and not fly about the world, as many giddy birds do, without the least improvement from their travels." On this he spread his wings as a signal of departure, which his family obeyed.

Observing a parcel of boys creeping silently along, "Stop," said he, "let us perch on this tree, and see what these little monsters are about." Scarcely were they seated, when one of the boys mounted an adjacent tree, and took a nest of half-fledged linnets, which he brought in triumph to his companions.

At this instant a family of thrushes unfortunately chirped, which directed another boy to the place of their habitation, to which he climbed, and eagerly seized the unfortunate little creatures. Having met with so much success, the boys left the grove, to exult at their own homes over their wretched captives, for ever separated from their tender parents, who soon came back laden with the gain of their labour, which they had kindly destined for the sustenance of their infant broods.

The little redbreasts were now spectators of those parental agonies which had been formerly described to them, and Pecksy cried out, "Who would desire