The Nest in the Honeysuckles | Page 2

and she
flew away to her perch to rest till morning. I do not see how she could
balance herself so nicely on one foot, as she slept with her head turned
back, and half-hidden beneath her wing.
Eddie often watched the robin during the day. He was careful not to
frighten it. "I wonder how the robin could find so nice a place. I should
not have thought it would have known about it,"--he said to his mother,
as he saw the bird fly in, almost out of sight, among the clustering
branches.

Mrs. Dudley told Eddie God taught the birds where to build their nests,
and that he took care of them, and provided food for them.
Is it not wonderful that God, who has built the world in which we live,
and all the bright worlds we can see in the sky, should attend to the
wants of the robins and sparrows, and other birds which he has made?
We should forget them, if we had much of importance to attend to, or
we should be weary of providing for their wants; but our heavenly
Father never forgets, and never grows weary. He hears the ravens when
they cry, and not even a sparrow falls to the ground without his
knowledge. "Are ye not much better than they?" our Saviour said to his
disciples, when endeavouring to teach them to trust in the love and
parental care of God, and not to be anxious in regard to their temporal
welfare.
If God so cares for the birds, whose lives are short, and who have no
souls to live in another world, will he not much more care for those
who are made in his image, and for whom the Saviour died?
No good thing will he withhold from those who walk uprightly, who
try to obey his commandments, and look to Christ for salvation from
sin. I hope, my dear children, when you see the birds, you will
remember God's love to them and to you.
I have given you all I know of the history of one day of the robin's life,
but Eddie will observe it while it lives in its house in the honeysuckle,
and will tell me all he sees of its domestic arrangements. I hope to tell
you with what kind of a carpet it covers the floor, and what it hangs on
the walls, and how it brings up its little children, if it should be so
happy as to have any to gladden its quiet home, and cheer it with their
chattering tongues. I am sure it will have pretty flowers and green
leaves for pictures to look at, painted by One whose skill no artist can
rival; and it will need no Cologne for perfume for the breath of the
honeysuckle is more delicious than any odour which the art of man
could prepare.

CHAPTER II.
GOING TO HOUSEKEEPING.
I promised to tell you more about the nest in the honeysuckles. Eddie
has observed it with great attention, and has kept me well informed in
regard to it. I have stepped out upon the porch with him, and, kneeling
down, and looking over the side, I have had a peep myself at this
wonderfully contrived home of the robins. It is partly supported by a
cornice, which runs around the porch, and gives it a firmer foundation
than the small branches of the honeysuckle could do.
But I must not forget to tell you about the finishing of the nest. The
second day, the robin was at work before six o'clock in the morning; so
you see birds are early risers, and like to have their work done in good
season. They know how pleasant it is to see the rosy dawn, and
welcome it with their sweetest strains of music. I wonder how many of
my little friends see the sun rise, these bright mornings! If they would
awake with the birds, they must, as wisely as the birds, go to their
places of rest before the shades of evening shroud the world in darkness.
If they sit up late, they will lose the morning songs, which fill the
woods with sounds of gladness, and which resound from every tree and
shrub about the houses of those who love these pleasant visitors, and
refuse to allow them to be frightened from their premises.
The robin rose early, as I have told you, and resumed her labours for a
short time. Through the day she came occasionally to see how the
house was drying, but did not seem to be at all busy. She had
accomplished so much by her previous industry, that there was no
necessity for much exertion, and she felt quite at liberty to enjoy herself,
taking short