THERE WAS A CHERRY-TREE

HERE was a cherry-tree. Its bloomy snows

No more its airy visions of pure joy

As when you were a boy.

There was a cherry-tree. The Blue-jay set
His blue against its white-O blue as jet

He seemd there then!-But now-Whoever knew
He was so pale a blue!

There was a cherry-tree-Our child-eyes saw The miracle:-Its pure white snows did thaw Into a crimson fruitage, far too sweet

But for a boy to eat.

There was a cherry tree, give thanks and joy!—

There was a bloom of snow-There was a boyThere was a Blue-jay of the realest blue

And fruit for both of you.

-James Whitcomb Riley.

THE DAYS GONE BY

THE days gone by! O the days gone by!

The apples in the orchard, and the pathway through the rye; The chirrup of the robin, and the whistle of the quail

As he piped across the meadows sweet as any nightingale; When the bloom was on the clover, and the blue was in the sky, And my happy heart brimmed over, in the days gone by.

THE FLYCATCHER CLASS

HE Flycatcher bird is a lively bird,

THE

And a way of his own hath he,

To perch perchance on a weed or a post
Or the outer branch of a tree.

There, turning his head from side to side,
He looks with an eager eye,

Above, below, and all around,
For insects as they fly.

On seeing one, he's off like a flash,
For a capture quick, and then,
With easy, dancing flight, returns
To his chosen perch again.

Oh, the Flycatcher birds are lively birds,
And sportsmen every one,

They always take their game on the wing,
Without the noise of a gun.

-By permission of Dr. Garrett Newkirk.

THE WORM THE BIRD DID NOT EAT

W

HEN you find a worm in the fruit you are eating-don't blame the worm, nor the dealer who sold you the fruit, but blame the man, woman, or boy who killed the bird that would have eaten the worm. Men hunters, women and girl bird wearers, and boy shooters and collectors of eggs-all these are to blame for the worms in the fruit and vegetables.

BOYS AND GUNS AND CAMERAS

Think of the hardening, degrading effect on the boys who go around shooting at birds and other animals. Think also of the great danger to everybody. The children themselves are often injured. Many cases of eyes partially or wholly destroyed by toy guns have been reported.

Think of the softening, uplifting effect on the boys who go around with cameras taking pictures of birds and other animals. They have the fun of getting the pictures. Their friends have the pleasure of receiving copies of the photograph. No one is injured by their sport.

John D. Barry says: "What we want to believe, we believe on the slightest excuse. Fashion gives women an excellent excuse for believing that it is right to wear feathers and birds in their hats, and on their backs, animal skins and furs. It will take some time before they will let themselves accept their share and responsibility in the barbarity."

-Western Humane Press Committee.

PHOEBE

A

PHOEBE is always associated with old bridges and bubbling brooks. Nearly every bridge which is at all adapted for the purpose has its Phoebe home beneath it, to which the same pair of birds will return year after year, sometimes building a new nest, sometimes repairing the old. They seem to be of a nervous temperament, for, as they sit upon their usual look-out perch, their tails are continually twitching as though in anticipation of the insects that are sure to pass sooner or later.

A jerky, emphatic "phoe-be" with the accent on the second syllable, and still further accented by a vigorous flirt of the tail, comprises the principle note of this bird.

The nest is made of mud, grass and moss, plastered to the sides of beams or logs under bridges, culverts or barns. In May or June four or five white eggs are laid.

These birds breed in North America east of the Rockies, north to southern Canada, and winter in the southern United States and southward.

-Bird Guide.