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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 said he’d stay a year or two.


[Illustration]

[Illustration: Turkey Cock]

  Taking his family for a walk
  We see old Mr. Turkey Cock;
  He dresses up in colors gay,—
  His wife wears quiet tones of gray.


[Illustration]

[Illustration: Stork]

  Old Doctor Stork, the kind old bird,
  Brings the new babies, I have heard;
  If you should ask him, he may bring
  You one to keep, beneath his wing.


[Illustration]

[Illustration: Rook]

  Sir Rook is English, don’t you know?
  Says: “Do not confound me with the Crow.”
  His family tree is large and old,
  Which makes his manner proud and cold.


[Illustration]

[Illustration: Paradise Bird]

  Paradise Bird, in her new clothes,
  Said: “They ’re expensive, goodness knows!
  I ’spose, because they were so dear,
  I ’ll have to wear them all this year.”

  (_Red Paradise Bird_)


[Illustration]

[Illustration: Peacock]

  Peacock’s a bird of much renown
  And wears a lovely cap and gown;
  They say he’s very, very vain
  And likes to show his sweeping train.


[Illustration]

[Illustration: Nightingale]

  Said Nightingale: “It’s not my way
  To practice singing in the day,
  But wait till all the rest are through
  And I will gladly sing for you.”


[Illustration]

[Illustration: Canary]

  Canary-Bird said to his mother:
  “Is that bird in the tree my brother?”
  Mama Canary said: “Oh, no!
  He’s just a cousin—wild, you know.”


[Illustration]

[Illustration: Oriole]

  Oriole, flashing wings of flame,
  In the spring like sunshine came,
  Hung his nest away up high
  So his babes could see the sky.

  (_Orchard Oriole_)


[Illustration]

[Illustration: Baltimore Oriole]

  Baltimore Oriole, pretty thing,
  Builds his nest of bits of string;
  He’s sociable and likes to stay
  Where people live and children play.


[Illustration]

[Illustration: Meadow Lark]

  Meadow Lark has a flute-like voice,
  Sings a song that’s very choice;
  Builds his nest low, near the ground,
  With woven grasses arched around.


[Illustration]

[Illustration: Crow]

  Black, solemn-looking Mr. Crow