ession of him. He
would kill this bird or die in the fight. The other cock robin was
as eager for the fray as he was; so these two little birds were
soon fighting savagely for the lady of their choice. She watched
the duel from a twig close by. She had made up her mind to marry
the winner, and it did not seem to matter much which that was. Both
were handsome; and the victor would prove himself the stronger. The
birds were very equally matched, and fought for some time with
varying fortune. At last, however, Robinette was conqueror, and he
flew at once to the lady and claimed her as his bride. He knew he
now had a right to her; but just in case her mind should waver
towards another, he placed before her the advantages of an
alliance with him, the chief one being that he could get as much
food as ever they could eat, with very little trouble, and the food
was of the most rare and nourishing kind.

"I can get some for you now, for I see my friends in the garden,
and Polly is sure to have crumbs in her pocket. Wait here until I
come back."

The ladies had come out for a stroll in the garden. What a garden
that was! At almost any season it was beautiful, but in the summer
it was a paradise alike for birds and human beings. It was
surrounded by grand old trees of many kinds and flowering shrubs as
large as trees. Then the wealth of roses and sweet-scented,
old-fashioned flowers of all sorts, mixed here and there with their
more modern sisters, made it a perfect dream of delight. How the
town-wearied friends rejoiced when they were bidden to visit that
garden! There their eyes were refreshed by the softly-blended
colouring and exquisite beauty of the whole scene. They breathed in
the delicious air, and thought it better than wine as a restorer of
strength. No words can describe the feeling to the feet of those
soft, green avenues--the grass so short that the most delicate
could walk there without harm, and so smooth that a child's bare
foot could run there scathless. That garden is now to those dear
friends a place in their memory only. The ladies have passed away
from it, and strangers are in possession.

Excuse this digression.

Robinette flew to Polly's hand.

"So here you are, Bobbie. We wondered what had become of you, as
you did not come in at lunch-time. Don't fill your mouth so full;
you will choke yourself. Oh! he is off."

Polly had held the crumbs for him as usual, and he just stuffed his
mouth full and fl