usual morning employments; and the children, attended by their maid, passed an agreeable half-hour in the garden.
In the meantime the hen redbreast returned to the nest, while her mate took his flight in search of food for his family. When the mother approached the nest, she was surprised at not hearing as usual the chirping of her young ones; and what was her astonishment at seeing them all crowded together, trembling with apprehension! "What is the matter, my nestlings," said she, "that I find you in this terror?" "Oh, my dear mother," cried Robin, who first ventured to raise up his head, "is it you?" Pecksy then revived, and entreated her mother to come into the nest, which she did without delay; and the little tremblers crept under her wings, endeavouring to conceal themselves in this happy retreat.
"What has terrified you in this manner?" said she. "Oh! I do not know," replied Dicky; "but we have seen such a monster as I never beheld before," "A monster, my dear? pray describe it." "I cannot," said Dicky; "it was too frightful to be described." "Frightful indeed!" cried Robin; "but I had a full view of it, and will give the best description I can. We were all sitting peaceably in the nest, and very
