Within thirty feet of the window
where I am writing, this very day crows
have been shaking frozen pears from a tree
and then lighting on the snow to eat a



208 mn^ntn of ti&e ^tees

cold meal. Their fear of man is great,
but their fear of starvation is greater.
A piece of pork rind or a bit of suet
nailed to a conspicuous post or tree has
saved many a chickadee or snow-bird
from starvation. A handful of grain
thrown upon the snow has sent many a
flock of buntings on their way rejoicing,
and it did not cost the giver a cent.
A box of corn at the corner of the
barn may keep alive the spark of life un-
der the coat of some improvident squirrel
whose winter store has run low.
The crow and the jay will also find
your bounty, and the sight of the blue-
coated and black-frocked rogues is enough
to repay one for his trouble.
Besides, the corn and the golden grain
are the bounty of the God of harvest who
fashioned the jay and the squirrel and
also the face of man after his own image.
iFritnlrfii fti Kfeti 209

All creatures he has given into our keep-
ing, and the fear of man is upon all
things. Let us show mercy and good
will, for with what measure we mete
kindness unto the lesser creatures, the
same shall be meted unto us by the
great Father.
There is sweet companionship, too, in
the confidence of these little friends who
come pecking at our windows, and they
will repay us with gleeful chirps and twit-
ters and wise nods of their dainty little
heads.
