confidence in the little fellow were quite as rema as his patient interest in their movements.

2. One day the parents were missing. What ha pened to them we never knew; but they were gone hours, and we feared they had been killed. The c were in great distress. And when the hot sun down on the unprotected and naked bodies of the birds, and it was feared they would die, permissi sought to feed them. Suitable food was given hungry little fledglings, who eagerly devoured it, to the joy of all, the mother-bird appeared.

3. Such a rejoicing as there was on all sides! Th dren in the house and the children in the nest were e delighted. The latter for a while kept up an earnest chattering with their mother, telling her-so Lu sisted the whole story of their distress, loneline hunger, and of the kind and loving little hands th fed them with so much care and such affectionate in 4. Our little feathered family soon removed to t den, where they carried with them their remembra They were tame and fa their friends in the house. and wherever the earth was dug over, they would around us with the fearlessness of little chickens, k about our feet, perching on the hoe-handle when di from our hand, and slipping quietly off when it v

5. But clouds gathered over the happy scene. bright little spirit whose gentleness and loving and goodness had won for him all hearts, in one week passed from the enjoyments of earth to a hea home. His sister, spared to us, but still suffering the same epidemic, came back again, the following s to find that our catbirds had for a third time reconst

ed.

les! The chil

t were equally earnest, eager -so Lucy inoneliness, and ands that had onate interest.

ed to the garmembrance of and familiar; would come xens, keeping when dropped en it was re

their nest, only to be destroyed by a neighbor's cat. Though the garden is filled with their descendants, none of them have equalled their parents in their confiding and trustful disposition.

6. We have missed their welcome in May, when we have revisited our country home; for no spaniel ever manifested more joy to greet its master than our catbird did on the last spring he was with us. He would fly back and forth, overhead, alight on the ground, just a few steps in front, wherever we moved, accompanying our steps, and evincing his apparent desire to greet us by his outpouring of song and by his antic movements.

7. The power of mimicry of the catbird, though limited, is often very striking and entertaining. He is very far from being the equal of the mocking-bird. The more difficult notes he cannot successfully imitate, and when he tries he ludicrously fails.

8. But the whistle of the common quail, the clucking of a hen calling her brood, the cries of young chickens for their mother's aid, the notes of the pewee, and the refrain of the towhee, he will repeat with perfect exactness, so as to deceive even the birds themselves.

9. We were once crossing a swampy thicket, when the sound of "Bob-white!" so like the cry of a quail, caused a useless search for that bird. It ended in our espying the author in a catbird snugly hid away, and apparently enjoying the cheat. At another time we have known the catbird call off a brood of young chickens, greatly to the annoyance of the old hen.

10. To its own family the catbird is devoted and constant in its care and attentions. To each other it is

affectionate, kind, and sympathizing in time of trouble;

known to bring up another brood, not its own, t been taken from their mother's nest and placed n of its kind friend.

11. We hope we have said enough of the good q of our favorite bird to teach our young folks to trea loving, confiding creatures with kindness, and to c their good-will. They deserve your good-will, an will repay with their charming songs, and their charming and affectionate confidence, your kind ment of them.

Re-paired'. Mended; refitted.
In-sist'ed. Persisted in; urged.
A disease which at-
Ep-i-dem'ic.
tacks many persons at the same
time.
Dis-po-si'tion. Temper, character,
or frame of mind.
E-vin'cing. Showing clearly; mani-
festing.

An'tic. Odd; grotesque; ridiculous.
Lu'di-crous-ly. In a manner to ex-
cite laughter.

Lim'it-ed. Having bounds
Pe'wee. The name of a New
bird that comes early in sp
Re-frain'. The burden of a
that part of a song that is
at the end of every stanza.
To-whee'. A familiar bird,
on account of its notes.
Es-py'ing. Seeing things
tance.

Con'stant. Unchanging; fa
true in affection.

KNOW the song that the bluebird is singing, Out in the apple-tree where he is swinging. Brave little fellow! the skies may be dreary, Nothing cares he while his heart is so cheery.

Lat

es

ese

ate ney

lly

eat

mits.

land

g, or eated

called

a dis

ful cr

Hark! was there ever so merry a
Listen awhile, and you 'll hear w

Up in the apple-tree swinging an

3. Dear little blossoms down under
You must be weary of winter, I 1
Hark! while I sing you a messag
Summer is coming, and spring-ti

4. Little white snow-drop, I pray yo

Bright yellow crocus, come, open
Sweet little violets, hid from the
Put on your mantles of purple an
Daffodils! daffodils! say, do you
Summer is coming, and spring-tin

Lis'ten. Hearken; give ear.
Cheer. Cheerfulness; gayety.

A-while'.
A-rise'.

And the slender branches spread far and wide,
Till the mighty oak is the forest's pride.

4. Far down in the depths of the dark blue sea
The coral-worms work ceaselessly;

Grain by grain, they are building well,
Each one alone in its little cell.

5. Moment by moment, and day by day,
Never stopping to rest or to play,

Rocks upon rocks they are rearing high,
Till the top looks out on the sunny sky.

6. The gentle wind and the balmy air,
Little by little, bring verdure there;
Till the summer sunbeams gayly smile
On the buds and flowers of the coral isle.

Train. An orderly company.

Rear'ing. Raising up.

Cease'less-ly. Perpetually; without Verd'ure. Green; the gree

MR.

R. OWEN, a worthy farmer in Vermont, ga eldest son, Benjamin, to the Federal cause, late fearful struggle. One day a message arrived