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  Bird Children

  The Little Playmates
  of the Flower Children

[Illustration: Children playing]

  By

  Elizabeth Gordon


  Drawings by

  M.T.Ross

[Illustration: Printer’s Mark]

  Published by
  P.F.Volland & Company
  Chicago



  Copyright 1912
  P. F. Volland & Company
  All Rights Reserved

  Sixth Edition




  _To all children who love
  Birds and Flowers, and
  especially to my little friend
  Dorothy Virginia,
  this book is lovingly dedicated._




FOREWORD

Birds are only another expression of God’s love, and we are told that
not even a sparrow shall fall to the ground without the notice of the
Father.

Birds are poetry come to life and set to music. If you should stand
at the edge of a forest at sundown and hear the birds singing their
good-night songs, hear the sleepy little notes grow fainter and fainter
until the silence came,—then when the dusk had deepened, you should
hear the night birds begin their plaintive songs, you would realize
what a different place our beautiful world would be without birds.

Even in great cities we have always some birds. The saucy little
sparrow, who comes so boldly begging crumbs at your window, likes the
cities best.

Only very thoughtless people, or those who do not understand, would
harm or frighten a bird.

They are real little people, and I am sure that when you have come to
know them you will love them as much as you have learned to love the
Flower Children.

The publishers and the author have received so many letters from
parents commending Flower Children for its instructive features, and
from children, demanding “more” delightful play-mates, that they offer
“Bird Brothers and Sisters,” believing that “The little playmates of
the Flower Children” will prove as welcome visitors as “The Little
Cousins of the Fields and Garden.”

The author and the artist wish to thank the children for their many
expressions of interest and for their loyal support.

  ELIZABETH GORDON
  M. T. ROSS




[Illustration]

[Illustration: Rooster]

  Sir Rooster is a noisy chap,
  He wakes you from your morning nap;
  He sleeps but little all night through,
  Crows at eleven, one and two.


[Illustration]

[Illustration: Hen]

  Mrs. Hen, the kind old dame,
  Always dresses just the same;
  She talks all day about her joys
  And lays nice eggs for girls and boys.


[Illustration]

[Illustration: Guinea Hen]

  Said Guinea Hen: “I like to eat
  Three-cornered grains of nice buckwheat;
  I only want good, simple food
  To feed my Huffy little brood.”


[Illustration]

[Illustration: Gosling]

  Dear little, downy Gosling said:
  “I can’t get learning through my head;
  I really don’t see what’s the use—
  When I grow up I’ll be a goose.”


[Illustration]

[Illustration: Goose]

  Said Father Goose: “I think I ’ll take
  A stroll this morning to the lake.”
  Mother Goose said: "Then I ’ll go, too,
  And maybe take a swim with you.”


[Illustration]

[Illustration: Duckling]

  Said Yellow Duckling to his brother:
  “Come on, let’s hide away from mother,”
  But he replied: “Oh, dear me, No!
  We’d better not, she’d worry so.”


[Illustration]

[Illustration: Snow Goose]

  “Honk-honk, Honk-honk,” old Snow Goose said,
  “I think tonight we ’ll go to bed
  A hundred miles due south from here,—
  The snow is on the way, I fear.”


[Illustration]

[Illustration: Mallard Duck]

  In Shallow water Mallard Duck
  At fishing sometimes tries his luck;
  At other times he thinks it’s nice
  To nibble at the sweet wild rice.


[Illustration]

[Illustration: Swan]

  Madam Swan’s a graceful lady,
  Likes to float where banks are shady;
  When Father Swan goes out to swim
  He takes the cygnets out with him.


[Illustration]

[Illustration: Golden Pheasant]

  Golden Pheasant took a notion
  To take a trip across the ocean,
  Got a nice room at the zoo
  And