l,
an old safety pin, a hairpin, an elastic fixture, besides the usual
bits of grass, weeds, sticks, roots, etc.

After emptying this out, it gave Mrs. Wren her inning once more, and
she improved the opportunity; for she built an unusually fine nest,
which is not altogether apparent in this illustration. The box
containing the nest was placed upon a ledge of the porch and so could
be easily taken down for inspection.

The material first used in the nest was twigs found under a nearby plum
tree. Then it was lined with grass, horse hair, a blue jay's feather,
some hen's feathers, and some cottony material like lint. Jenny finally
completed her boudoir by festooning a snake skin about it. When the
nestlings began to walk about over the nest, this skin broke up into
bits; so does not show in the picture.

This nest was begun May 4, and the first egg was laid May 12. One more
egg was added each day until eight were counted. They began to hatch
the 30th, thus celebrating Memorial Day. Seven eggs hatched and the
little ones kept the old birds more than busy, early and late, feeding
them.

First the tiniest little spiders and bugs were brought. Then came
larger ones, and finally beetles, crickets, large spiders, etc., were
dropped into the yawning mouths. So fast they grew, one could almost
see the progress from day to day. They posed for this picture June 17,
leaving the nest the 18th, and on the 19th the parent birds began their
second nest in another box on the same porch.

The first egg was laid the 23rd, thus taking but four days in the
construction of this nest, while the first required eight. As a matter
of fact it was not so carefully made. This time only five eggs were
laid, and at the present moment Mr. Wren is singing encouragement and
appreciation to his brooding mate; and, although the thermometer
registers 98 deg. in the shade, his notes joyously ripple out loud and
clear, not only to Jenny's delight, but to ours as well.

A COMPARISON.

I'd ruther lay out here among the trees,
With the singing birds and the bumble bees,
A-knowing that I can do as I please,
Than to live what folks call a life of ease--
Up thar in the city.

For I don't 'xactly understan'
Where the comfort is for any man,
In walking hot bricks and using a fan,
And enjoying himself as he says he can--
Up thar in the city.

It's kinder lonesome, mebbe, you'll say,
A-liv