I have a very pleasant home, high up in a large elm tree.  It is carefully hidden so that the boys may not see it.  That is the most important thing to think of in building a house.

My house is made of the smallest twigs, of dry grass, and of straw that I found in the field.  I built it near a house where all the family are kind to me.  The children feed me with apples and nuts.

I have had some happy days in my life, but I have had some sad ones, too.  The saddest days were when I lost my two little children.

The brightest child I ever had was Chippy.  He liked to ask questions and look at every new thing he saw.  This was all very well if he had been a little more careful.  One day when I was away, Chippy saw a box under the tree.  Down he went to see what was in the box.  Of course you know what happened.  Chippy was caught in a trap.

[Illustration:  Little Freehold.  By S. J. Carter.]

The boy who had set the trap carried Chippy home and put him in a cage.  He was kind to the little fellow and gave him fruit and nuts to eat.  Still Chippy was not happy.  He longed for the green trees and a frolic in the open fields.

For several days after Chippy was caught, I was very unhappy, but I tried to be cheerful for the sake of my dear little Bushy Tail.  Then I lost this little one in a way that is almost too sad to think of.

Bushy Tail was playing in a tree one day, running up and down and jumping from limb to limb, when some boys saw him among the green leaves.

They began at once to stone him.  Poor little Bushy Tail ran up the tree as far as he could, but at last a stone hit him.  For a minute he clung trembling to the branch, and I hoped he was not hurt, but another stone struck him and he fell.

The boys shouted when they saw him fall, but a little girl ran and picked him up so gently that I have loved her ever since that day.  I was his mother, but I could not help him.

She carried him to a house near by and put him in a box filled with soft grass, but the little fellow was badly hurt.  Three days later I saw her bury him in her little garden, and I knew his pain was over.

I went home feeling that I could never be happy again, but a great surprise was in store for me.  When I had climbed up to my nest, there sat Chippy, safe and sound.

“My dearest Chippy, how did you get out of the cage?” I asked.

“Frank let me out,” said the joyful Chippy.  “He was watching me this morning, and at last he said, ’Chippy, I don’t believe I should like to run in a wheel if I had been used to running in trees.  I think those wires must make your feet sore.  I am sure I should like my own home better than this dull cage.  Chippy, old fellow, I am going to let you out.’

“Didn’t I run!  I forgot to say ‘Thank you,’ I was so happy, but I think he knew how glad I was.”

FORBEARANCE.