t of the feathered folk agreed that Mr. Blackbird ought not to have
spoken as he did to Grandfather Mole. But Jolly Robin's wife said that
she was glad there was somebody with backbone enough to tell Grandfather
Mole the truth.

"If there were many more like Grandfather Mole in the garden we'd all
have to spend our summers somewhere else," she said, "or starve."

Jolly Robin told her that she would find things much the same, no matter
where she lived. "What's a garden, without an old mole or two?" he asked
the company in general. And since nobody answered, Jolly Robin seemed to
think he had silenced Mrs. Robin--for once.

But it was not so.

"A garden without an old mole in it would be just what I'd like," she
cried.

"Well, anyhow, my dear," her husband said, "please remember that
Grandfather Mole is going to turn over a new leaf."

XIII

TURNING OVER A NEW LEAF

SEVERAL days passed before Mr. Blackbird returned to Farmer Green's
garden. And when at last he flew across the meadow one morning and
perched on the garden fence, to take a look around before beginning his
breakfast, he saw that Mrs. Jolly Robin was making countless trips
between the garden and her home. Early as it was she was hard at work
feeding her nestlings.

"How are the pickings this morning?" Mr. Blackbird called to her.

"I'm finding plenty for my children to eat--if that's what you mean,"
Mrs. Robin replied somewhat haughtily. Mr. Blackbird laughed in the
sleeve of his black coat. The rascal delighted in using language that
did not please Mrs. Robin.

"If the pickings are good, then there must be fewer pickers," he
remarked with a grin. "I suppose Grandfather Mole has taken my advice
and turned over a new leaf."

"I don't know about that," said Mrs. Robin. "Anyhow, there are plenty of
good crawling things stirring after last night's shower. Everything
seems to be coming up out of the garden this morning."

She had scarcely finished speaking when Grandfather Mole poked his head
from beneath a head of lettuce. Mr. Blackbird was just about to begin
his breakfast. But he paused when he saw Grandfather Mole.

"Hello!" he cried. "What brings you to the surface?"

Grandfather Mole knew Mr. Blackbird's voice at once.

"I'm glad you're here!" he exclaimed. "I want you to tell Farmer Green
the news. For I know he'll be delighted to hear it."

Then Mr. Blackbird did an ungentlemanly thing. He winked at Jolly
Robin's wife. But he w