Page:Story of the robins.djvu/127

Rh his sister that the birds were well, and fast asleep.

"I think," said she, "it is time for you and me to follow their example; for my part, with my morning and evening walk together, I am really tired, so shall beg leave to wish you a good night, my dear mamma. Papa, I suppose, will not be at home this week?"

"No, my dear, nor the next," said Mrs. Benson, "for he has many affairs to settle in the west. I am rather fatigued also, and shall soon retire to rest."

At the usual hour of visiting Mrs. Benson's tea-table the next day, the parent robins took their morning's flight, and found the children with their mother. They had been up a long time, for Frederick had made in his bedchamber a lodging for the birds, which had awakened both him and his sister at a very early hour, and they rose with great readiness to perform the kind office they had imposed upon themselves. The two blackbirds were perfectly well, but the linnet looked rather drooping, and they began to be apprehensive they should not raise him, especially when they found he was not inclined to eat. As for the blackbirds, they were very hungry indeed; and their young benefactors, not considering that when fed by their parents young birds wait some time between every morsel, supplied them too fast, and