re will join me in the search for my child. And we'll
find her, never fear."

"God grant that you may--and alive!" sobbed the poor mother. "My
darling! oh, my darling!"

At that moment a flock of birds came in sight--so large a flock that,
wheeling around the head of the sorrowing mother, it almost shut out
from her the light of day.

Round and round her the birds circled, uttering strange, eager sounds;
then flew away a short distance, to return with louder calls than ever.

"They miss her," said the father, who was just about to mount his horse.
"They have come to be fed."

"They have come to lead us to her," cried his wife, her whole face
growing glad and bright. "Look at them! They are asking us to follow."

And the birds turned as she made a few steps forward, and flew slowly
before her. To a narrow path up the nearest hill they led--so narrow
that the horse had to be left behind, and the father, who in his
impatience had ridden on in front, was obliged to dismount and follow on
foot. Over the hill and across a bridge that spanned a wide stream they
went, then up some steep rocks, and down, down into a tiny green valley,
from which another flock of birds arose with welcoming cries; and there,
in a little cave, imprisoned by a huge stone that had fallen from the
rock above across its mouth, the trees and shrubs around her black with
watching birds, sat Birdie, her little hands patiently folded in her
lap, a smile on her pale lips, and faith shining from her heaven-blue
eyes. And for once--her heart being full to overflowing with love for
her wee daughter, and gratitude to the good God and them--the mother too
understood the language of the birds as they sang,

"Birdie, sweet, sweet, sweet,
Happy be forever!
While the birds can guard thee, sweet,
Harm shall reach thee never."

WILD BOARS.

The wild boar is one of the most dangerous of beasts. Although it
belongs to the same great family as the lazy, good-natured pig that lies
in utter contentment in the farmer's pen, it is an altogether different
creature, and few animals are so difficult to hunt.

In appearance it has the same general characteristics as domestic swine,
with the difference that it is larger, covered with coarser bristles,
has fiery, glowing eyes, and is armed with two terrible tusks, sometimes
ten inches long, with which it can inflict dangerous wounds.

Formerly wild boars roamed in great numbers through the forests