ore they recovered
from their bewilderment at finding themselves deserted, returned bearing
in his beak a strawberry. The young thrush received the dainty eagerly,
but finding it too big to swallow, beat it on the fence as if it were a
worm. Of course it parted, and a piece fell to the ground, which the
waiting parent went after, and administered as a second mouthful.

For a long time the little ones were fed on the fence, and the father
was so happy that every few minutes he was forced to retire behind a
neighboring tree and "make gladness musical upon the other side."

After that morning the thrasher came daily to the place, and a dessert
of strawberries invariably followed the more substantial meal, but never
again did he bring more than one of his family with him.

One morning the brown thrush baby, who had been rapidly growing
self-reliant, came alone for the first time. It was interesting to watch
him, running along the tops of the pickets; searching in the hot grass
till out of breath for something to eat; looking around in a surprised
way, as if wondering why the food did not come; making a dash, with
childlike innocence, after a strawberry he saw in the mouth of a robin,
who in amazement leaped a foot in the air; and at last flying to a tree
to call and listen for his sire. That wise personage, meanwhile, had
stolen silently into the grove, all dripping from his bath in the bay,
and while indulging in a most elaborate dressing and pluming, had kept
one eye on the infant in the grass below, apparently to see how he got
on by himself. When at last the little one stood panting and
discouraged, he called, a single "chirp." The relieved youngster
recognized it and answered, and at once flew over to join him.

This restless young thrasher, excepting that he was perhaps somewhat
lighter in color and a little less glossy of coat, looked at that moment
as old as he ever would. Nothing but his ingenuous ways, and his soft
baby-cry "chr-er-er" revealed his tender age. His curiosity when he
found himself in an unfamiliar place or on a strange tree was amusing.
He looked up and down, stretching his neck in his desire to see
everything; he critically examined the tuft of leaves near him; he
peered over and under a neighboring branch, and then gazed gravely
around on the prospect before him. He flew with ease, and alighted with
the grace of his family, on the bare trunk of a tree, the straight side
of a picket, or any othe