ah, what happy days we had together all spring! we wandered all through this great forest and even made some journeys into the edge of the meadow. still, there was no place we loved as we did the dusky hollow by the old log where we first met. one day your mother told me that she must begin housekeeping and that i must keep out of the way while she was busy. so i had to go off with a crowd of other ruffed grouse while she fixed her nest, laid her eggs, and hatched out you youngsters. it was rather hard to be driven off in that way, but you know it is the custom among grouse. we poor fellows had to amuse ourselves and each other until our wives called us home to help take care of the children.