[Pg 90]

We must now pass over several months, and relate an adventure which occurred late in the fall. Fred and Annie one morning received an invitation to a party given by one of their[Pg 91] schoolmates, on the afternoon of the same day.

[Pg 91]

As they entered the house, dressed in their Sunday suits, their countenances glowing with pleasure, Fred heard the familiar chirp of a robin, and, glancing to the window, saw a large cage containing a pair of their favorite birds.

"O Fred!" cried Annie, suddenly, growing pale with excitement "there are our lost robins."[Pg 92]

[Pg 92]

Jack and Katy (for it was indeed they) instantly recognized their young friends. They flew rapidly from one side of the cage to another, striking their wings against the wires in their vain efforts to fly to her.

Mrs. Jones, the lady of the house, at that moment entered the room. Fred advanced toward her, and fixing his frank eyes full on her face, said, "Those are our robins, ma'am."[Pg 93]

[Pg 93]

"Do you think so?" she asked, with a smile. "If you can prove that they belong to you, you shall have them, cage and all; but they have been here a long time."

"If you will please open the cage, I will show you that they know us," said the boy, earnestly.

"What is it?" inquired Mr. Jones, coming forward and joining the group.[Pg 94]

[Pg 94]

His wife repeated what Fred had said.

"What makes you think they are yours?" asked the gentleman, kindly.

"Their parents came and built a nest in our tree," said the boy. "When the little ones were hatched, we always fed them, and they grew so tame they would eat crumbs from our mouths, hop about the room, and alight on our heads."[Pg 95]

[Pg 95]

"Yes!" cried Annie; "and one we tackled, that largest one, into a paper cart, and he drew it all round the room, and then flew with it to the top of the mirror."

"How many young ones were there?" 

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