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when he carried her the first food； he found that she was on the
edge of the nest； dropping bits of shell outside； and creeping to
peep； he saw the tiniest coral baby； with closed eyes； and little
patches of soft silky down。 Its beak was wide open； and though
his heart was even fuller than on the previous day； the Cardinal
knew what that meant； and instead of indulging in another
celebration； he assumed the duties of paternity； and began
searching for food； for now there were two empty crops in his
family。 On the following day there were four。 Then he really
worked。 How eagerly he searched； and how gladly he flew to the
sumac with every rare morsel！ The babies were too small for the
mother to leave； and for the first few days the Cardinal was
constantly on wing。
If he could not find sufficiently dainty food for them in the
trees and bushes； or among the offerings of the farmer； he
descended to earth and searched like a wood robin。 He forgot he
needed a bath or owned a sun parlour； but everywhere he went；
from his full heart there constantly burst the cry：
〃See here！ See here！〃
His mate made never a sound。 Her eyes were bigger and softer
than ever； and in them glowed a steady lovelight。 She hovered
over those three red mites of nestlings so tenderly！ She was so
absorbed in feeding； stroking； and coddling them she neglected
herself until she became quite lean。
When the Cardinal came every few minutes with food； she was a
picture of love and gratitude for his devoted attention； and once
she reached over and softly kissed his wing。 〃See here！ See
here！〃 shrilled the Cardinal； and in his ecstasy he again forgot
himself and sang in the sumac。 Then he carried food with greater
activity than ever to cover his lapse。
The farmer knew that it lacked an hour of noon； but he was so
anxious to tell Maria the news that he could not endure the
suspense another minute。 There was a new song from the sumac。
He had heard it as he turned the first corner with the shovel
plow。 He had listened eagerly； and had caught the meaning almost
at once〃See here！ See here！〃 He tied the old gray mare to the
fence to prevent her eating the young corn； and went immediately。
By leaning a rail against the thorn tree he was able to peer into
the sumac； and take a good look at the nest of handsome
birdlings； now well screened with the umbrella…like foliage。 It
seemed to Abram that he never could wait until noon。 He
critically examined the harness； in the hope that he would find a
buckle missing； and tried to discover a flaw in the plow that
would send him to the barn for a file； but he could not invent an
excuse for going。 So； when he had waited until an hour of noon；
he could endure it no longer。
〃Got news for you； Maria；〃 he called from the well； where he was
making a pretense of thirst。
〃Oh I don't know；〃 answered Maria； with a superior smile。 〃If
it's about the redbirds； he's been up to the garden three times
this morning yellin'； 'See here！' fit to split； an' I jest
figured that their little ones had hatched。 Is that your news？〃
〃Well I be durned！〃 gasped the astonished Abram。
Mid…afternoon Abram turned Nancy and started the plow down a row
that led straight to the sumac。 He intended to stop there； tie
to the fence； and go to the river bank； in the shade； for a visit
with the Cardinal。 It was very warm； and he was feeling the heat
so much； that in his heart he knew he would be glad to reach the
end of the row and the rest he had promised himself。
The quick nervous strokes of the dinner bell； 〃Clang！ Clang！〃
came cutting the air clearly and sharply。 Abram stopped Nancy
with a jerk。 It was the warning Maria had promised to send him
if she saw prowlers with guns。 He shaded his eyes with his hand
and scanned the points of the compass through narrowed lids with
concentrated vision。 He first caught a gleam of light playing on
a gun…barrel； and then he could discern the figure of a man clad
in hunter's outfit leisurely walking down the lane； toward the
river。
Abram hastily hitched Nancy to the fence。 By making the best
time he could； he reached the opposite corner； and was nibbling
the midrib of a young corn blade and placidly viewing the
landscape when the hunter passed。
〃Howdy！〃 he said in an even cordial voice。
The hunter walked on without lifting his eyes or making audible
reply。 To Abram's friendly oldfashioned heart this seemed the
rankest discourtesy； and there was a flash in his eye and a
certain quality in his voice he lifted a hand for parley。
〃Hold a minute； my friend；〃 he said。 〃Since you are on my
premises； might I be privileged to ask if you have seen a few
signs 'at I have posted pertainin' to the use of a gun？〃
〃I am not blind；〃 replied the hunter； 〃and my education has been
looked after to the extent that I can make out your notices。
From the number and size of them； I think I could do it； old man；
if I had no eyes。〃
The scarcely suppressed sneer； and the 〃old man〃 grated on
Abram's nerves amazingly； for a man of sixty years of peace。 The
gleam in his eyes grew stronger； and there was a perceptible lift
of his shoulders as he answered：
〃I meant 'em to be read an' understood！ From the main road
passin' that cabin up there on the bank； straight to the river；
an' from the furthermost line o' this field to the same； is my
premises； an' on every foot of 'em the signs are in full force。
They're in a little fuller force in June； when half the bushes
an' tufts o' grass are housin' a young bird family； 'an at any
other time。 They're sort o' upholdin' the legislature's act；
providing for the protection o' game an' singin' birds； an' maybe
it 'ud be well for you to notice 'at I'm not so old but I'm able
to stand up for my right to any livin' man。〃
There certainly was an added tinge of respect in the hunter's
tones as he asked： 〃Would you consider it trespass if a man
simply crossed your land； following the line of the fences to
reach the farm of a friend？〃
〃Certainly not！〃 cried Abram； cordial in his relief。 〃To be sure
not！ Glad to have you convenience yourself。 I only wanted to
jest call to your notice 'at the BIRDS are protected on this
farm。〃
〃I have no intention of interfering with your precious birds； I
assure you；〃 replied the hunter。 〃And if you require an
explanation of the gun in June； I confess I did hope to be able
to pick off a squirrel for a very sick friend。 But I suppose for
even such cause it would not be allowed on your premises。〃
〃Oh pshaw now！〃 said Abram。 〃Man alive！ I'm not onreasonable。
O' course in case o' sickness I'd be glad if you could run across
a squirrel。 All I wanted was to have a clear understandin' about
the birds。 Good luck； an' good day to you！〃
Abram started across the field to Nancy； but he repeatedly turned
to watch the gleam of the gun…barrel； as the hunte