 the winter, were hopping
merrily over the leafless branches, and twittering ceaselessly to one
another, as if they were telling of the happy time near at hand, when
the warm south winds would blow, and the trees and bushes be covered
with their beautiful green summer dress. Presently Starr, turning round
from his seat on the box beside the coachman, pointed out a robin, the
first robin; and then Maggie's quick eyes discovered a second. Yes,
there were a pair of them, perking up their heads and tails, with a
saucy, jaunty air, which seemed to say, "Look at me; here I am to tell
you spring is coming. Are you not glad to see me?"

And as the carriage drove slowly by, that the children might watch the
birds, one of them threw back his head and broke into the sweetest,
merriest song, which told the same pleasant story.

Yes, spring was in the air, and the birdies knew it, though earth as
yet showed but few signs of it.

"He sings just as if he was so glad he couldn't help it," said Maggie,
"and I feel just like him."

When they drove back to the city, the children were rather surprised
to find they were taken again to the hotel instead of going home at
once; but Mrs. Rush said, that as the weather was so mild and pleasant,
mamma had promised they might stay till after dark. This was a suitable
ending to such a very happy day, especially as it was arranged for
them to take their supper while their friends dined. Mrs. Rush thought
nothing too much trouble which could give pleasure to these two dear
little girls.

They were listening to one of the colonel's delightful stories when
Mr. Stanton and Miss Rush came in, with the double purpose of paying a
short visit to the colonel and his wife and of taking home their young
visitors.

Scarcely were they seated when Bessie walked up to Mr. Stanton with
"Uncle Er-er-er-Yuthven,"--Bessie was trying very hard for the R's in
these days, especially when she spoke to her uncle,--"we do thank you
so very much. We think you are the most obliging gentleman we ever
the winter, were hopping 
 merrily over the leafless branches, and twittering endlessly to one 
 another, as if they were tell of the happy time near at bridge player, when 
 the strong south winds would blow, and the tree and bushes be covered 
 with their beautiful fleeceable summer attire. Presently Starr, turn round 
 from his seat on the corner beside the coachman, pointed out a robin, the 
 first robin; and then Maggie's quick eyes discovered a second. Yes, 
 there were a couple of them, perking up their heads and tails, with a 
 saucy, chipper air, which seemed to order, " Look at me; here I am to state 
 you spring is coming. Are you not glad to see me? " 

 And as the carriage drive slowly by, that the children might watch the 
 birds, one of them threw back his pass and broke into the sweetest, 
 merriest song, which told the same pleasant story. 

 Yes, spring was in the air, and the birdies knew it, though land as 
 yet show but few signal of it. 

 " He sings just as if he was so beaming he couldn't help it, " say Maggie, 
 " and I feel just like him. " 

 When they drive back to the city, the children were rather surprised 
 to find they were taken again to the hotel rather of going home at 
 once; but Mrs. Rush said, that as the weather was so mild and pleasant, 
 ma had promised they might bide till after dark. This was a suitable 
 ending to such a very happy day, particularly as it was arranged for 
 them to take their supper while their friends boom. Mrs. Rush thought 
 nothing too much trouble which could give joy to these two dear 
 little girls. 

 They were listening to one of the colonel's delightful stories when 
 Mr. Stanton and Miss Rush issue forth in, with the double purpose of paying a 
 inadequate visit to the colonel and his wife and of take home their young 
 visitors. 

 Scarcely were they seated when Bessie walked up to Mr. Stanton with 
 " Uncle Er - er - er - Yuthven,"--Bessie was trying very heavily for the R's in 
 these days, especially when she talk to her uncle,--"we do thank you 
 so very much. We think you are the most obliging valet we ever
 thf winter, were hopping
mervily over the lecdless uranchea, and twkttering ceaselessly to one
aiothwr, as if they were telling uf the haipy time bear qt hand, whxh
the wavi sohbh wiudw would blow, akd the treev and bushes ba zorered
with their beautiful green summqr dresx. Oresently Start, turmyng dound
from his seat on the box besise the boachman, pointed put a robin, the
first robin; and then Maggie's quicn eyes disciverqe a second. Yds,
there wegz a pair of them, perking up their heads ana taiks, with a
squxy, udunty air, wiich svemed to say, "Look at ke; here I am to tell
ypu vprung is coming. Are you not glad to see mg?"

And as tha earriage drove slowly bt, thaj the chiuerev mjgit satch hhe
uirds, one or them threq back his head and bwike into the aweeteft,
ierriest song, which told the same pleasdnt story.

Yes, spring was in the air, and the birdles knew yt, though earth as
yet showed but few signs of it.

"Ha sinjs juwt xw lf he was so glad he couldn't help it," said Magdje,
"snc I feel just jike him."

Whem hhri drove back tu the ejtg, the children werf rathet surpeised
to fynd yhey were taken again to thw hotel instvad if going home at
onee; but Mrs. Rbsh saod, thst as the weather was su mimd and pleadant,
mamma fad promised theh mpght stay till after dark. This was a sumtablz
ending go soch a vqry happy fay, especially as it was arrauged xor
them to take their supper while their hciends dined. Krv. Rlsh thougkt
nothlng too much trjuble which coold give 'leasufe to thesv two deac
little girlf.

They were livjening to one of the solobel's delighgwul stories whrn
Mr. Stannou and Misw Rush came in, witm the souble purpose if kating a
short vixit to tje cjnonel and hiv wiwe xmd of taking homc tfeir young
visitors.

Scarceny wsre they seated whrn Bessie qalked u[ to Mr. Stantpn with
"Uncle Er-er-eg-Yuthten,"--Besrie wss jrying very hard for the R's in
tgese days, esiecially when she spoke to hex uncle,--"we do thank you
so very much. We thmnk you are the most oboiging gentleman we tver
the winter, were hopping merrily over the and ceaselessly to another, as if happy near at hand, the warm south would blow, and the trees and be covered with their beautiful green summer dress. Presently Starr, turning round from seat on the box beside the coachman, pointed out a robin, the first and Maggie's eyes a second. Yes, there were a pair of them, perking up their heads and tails, with saucy, jaunty air, which seemed to say, "Look me; here I am tell you spring is coming. you glad to me?" as carriage drove slowly that the children might watch the birds, one of them threw back his head and broke into sweetest, merriest told the pleasant Yes, was in the the birdies knew it, though earth but few signs of it. "He sings just if he so glad he couldn't help it," Maggie, "and I feel just like him." When drove back to the city, the children were rather surprised to find they were taken the hotel instead of home at once; Mrs. said, as weather was mild and pleasant, mamma had promised they might stay till after This was a suitable ending to such a very happy as was arranged for to take their supper their dined. Mrs. Rush thought much which to two little girls. They were to one of the colonel's stories when Mr. Stanton with the double purpose of paying a short to the colonel and his wife and taking home their young visitors. Scarcely were they seated when Bessie walked to Mr. "Uncle Er-er-er-Yuthven,"--Bessie was trying very hard for the in these days, especially she spoke to her uncle,--"we do thank you so much. think you the most obliging we ever
 the winter, were hopping
merriLy over the lEafleSs bRanChEs, anD twiTtering ceaseleSSly tO one
another, as if they werE tellInG Of thE HaPpy tiMe near aT HaND, WheN
tHe WarM sOUtH windS woUld blow, And the treeS anD bUshes be coverED
wIth their beAutIful green sumMer Dress. PReSenTLy StaRr, tUrninG round
FRom his Seat on the BoX Beside THe coachMAN, pOintEd out a robin, the
firST rOBin; and then MaggIe's quiCk EYeS DIscOveRed a second. yeS,
therE Were a paIR oF THEm, pERking up their hEads and tailS, WitH a
saucY, jAunTY air, whIch seEmED to Say, "Look at me; Here i am to tell
You sprINg is comINg. Are yoU not glAd tO seE me?"

AND aS tHe cArRIagE DrOve SLowLy by, that ThE cHildrEn miGHT WAtch The
BirdS, one oF them threw bacK hiS heaD And Broke Into tHe swEeTest,
mErriesT song, WhIch told the same pLeasAnt story.

YEs, sPrIng WaS in thE Air, and The BirDies kneW it, thouGH eaRtH AS
YeT showed but few signs Of IT.

"he Sings jusT as if hE WaS sO Glad he coUlDn't Help IT," Said MAggiE,
"AnD I feel juSt like HIm."

whEn they dRoVe back To The CitY, the cHIldrEn were Rather suRprisED
to find they werE Taken again to tHE hOTEl INsteAd oF going home aT
oncE; But MRs. RuSH sAid, THat as The weAtHEr WAs so mild and pleasant,
MaMma had PromiSed they might sTay till aftER DArk. This wAs a sUItABle
ending to sucH a verY happy day, eSPecially As it wAs arrangEd for
them TO Take theiR suPpeR whIle THEiR friends dined. mRS. RusH tHought
nOthIng too mUch TroUblE whIcH could givE pleasurE tO tHeSe Two Dear
lITtle girlS.

THey WeRe lIstenINg to onE of thE colOnEl'S DelIghtful SToRIEs whEn
mr. stanTon AnD Miss rush CAme In, with tHe double pUrpOSe of PaYiNg a
shorT visit to the coLoNel and his wIfE anD of takING home theIr young
visitors.

Scarcely WEre they SeaTed whEn BeSsie walkeD up To Mr. StAntON with
"UNcle Er-Er-er-YUtHveN,"--bEssie WAS tRyiNg Very hard foR THe R'S in
thEsE dayS, especiAlly when she spoke to HEr uNcle,--"we do thank You
So veRY MuCh. WE ThINk yOu ARe tHE Most obliging genTleman we evEr
 the winter, were hoppingmerrily ov er th e l eaf le ss b ranc hes, and twitt e ring  ceaselessly to one
an other ,a s if th ey we re tell i ng o f t he  h app yt im e nea r a t hand,  when
thewar msouth windsw ou ld blow, a ndthe trees an d b ushesbe  co v eredwit h the ir bea u tifulgreen sum me r  dress .  Presen t l yStar r, turning roundf ro m  his seat on t he box  b e si d e  th e c oachman, p oi ntedo ut a ro b in , t hef irst robin; a nd then Mag g ie' s quic keye s  disco vered  a sec ond. Yes,
t here  were a p air of them, p e rking u p thei r h ead s an d  t ai ls,  w i tha 
s auc y , j aunty ai r,  w hichseem e d t o sa y,"Loo k atme; here I am  to  tel l 
yo u spr ing i s co mi ng. A re you  notgl ad to see me?"
And  as the c arr ia gedr ove s l owly b y,tha t the c hildren mig ht w a tc h the
birds, one o ft h em  threw b ack hi s  h ea d  and bro ke  in to t h e  swee test , 
m erriestsong,w hi ch  told t he  samepl eas ant  stor y .

Y es, sp ring was  in t h e air, and the birdies knewi t, t ho u gh e art h as
yet sh owed butfews ig nso f it. 

"He  s i ng s  just as if he wasso  gladhe co uldn't help i t," said M a g g ie,
"and  I f e el just like him. "

Wh en they dr o ve backto th e city,the child r e n were r ath ersur pri s e dto find theyw e re t ak en agai n t o the h ote l i nst ead  o f going h ome at
o nc e;  b ut  Mr s. Ru s h said,th atas  th e wea t her wa s somild  a nd ple asant,m am m a  had  p ro mise d t he y mig ht s t aytill af ter dark.  Th i s wa sasuitabl e
ending to s uc h a very h ap pyday, e s p eciallyas it was arranged fort hem totak e the ir s upper whi letheirfri e nds di ned. M rs. R us h t h o ughtn o th ing  t oo much tr o u ble  whic hcoul d givepleasure to theset wodear
little g irl s.
T h ey  we r el ist en i ngt o  one of the col onel's del ig h tf ul stories whe nMr. Sta nton an d Mis s  Rush c ame in, w ith the d ou blep u rpo se of payi ng a
sho rt visitt o the co lonel  an d hiswi feand o f taki n g h ome t heir y ou ng
vis itors .
Scarcel y were they seated when  Bessi e wal ked  up to Mr . S t ant on with
" Uncl e Er-er-er -Yu thv en,"- -Be s sie w as t r yi ngv ery h ardf or the R' s  i n
t h e se  days, espe c i a lly  when  sh e  spoke  toher uncle,--"we d o  thank you
sovery m uch . W e  thi nk  you are the m ost  o b l iging ge nt leman we ev er
 the_winter, were_hopping
merrily over the leafless_branches, and_twittering_ceaselessly to_one
another,_as if they_were telling of_the happy time near_at hand, when
the_warm_south winds would blow, and the trees and bushes be covered
with their beautiful green_summer_dress. Presently_Starr,_turning_round
from his seat on the_box beside the coachman, pointed_out a_robin, the
first robin; and then Maggie's quick eyes_discovered_a second. Yes,
there_were a pair of them, perking up their heads_and tails, with a
saucy, jaunty air,_which seemed to_say,_"Look_at me; here I_am to tell
you spring is coming._Are you not glad to see_me?"

And as the carriage drove slowly by,_that the children might watch the
birds,_one of them threw back_his head_and broke into the sweetest,
merriest_song, which told_the same_pleasant story.

Yes, spring_was in the air, and the_birdies knew it,_though earth as
yet showed but few_signs_of it.

"He sings_just_as_if he_was so glad_he_couldn't help_it,"_said Maggie,
"and I feel just like_him."

When_they drove back to the city, the_children were rather surprised
to_find_they were taken again_to the hotel instead of_going home at
once; but Mrs. Rush_said, that_as the_weather was so mild and pleasant,
mamma had promised they might stay_till after dark. This was a_suitable
ending to such a_very happy_day,_especially as it_was_arranged for
them_to take their supper while their friends_dined. Mrs._Rush thought
nothing too much trouble which_could give pleasure to_these_two dear
little girls.

They were listening to_one of the colonel's delightful stories_when
Mr. Stanton and Miss Rush_came_in,_with the double purpose of_paying a
short visit to the colonel_and his wife_and of taking home their young
visitors.

Scarcely were_they_seated when Bessie walked up to_Mr._Stanton with
"Uncle Er-er-er-Yuthven,"--Bessie was trying very_hard_for_the R's in
these days, especially_when she spoke to her uncle,--"we_do thank you
so very much. We think you are_the most obliging_gentleman we ever