“Well, Billy, there’s this comfort,” said Mary Frances; “it didn’t suffer. That’s very different from injuring it and letting it live on in agony.” “Yes,” said Billy, “you see I didn’t understand; boys don’t, I guess.” “Birds and bees,” Mary Frances repeated, “keep us from starving. I suppose you know of many other beneficial animals or insects.” “Oh, Billy, let’s have lots of birds in our garden!” she went on. “Why, how?” asked Billy. “Perhaps we could put food out for them.” “Yes, but I wasn’t thinking of that. I thought maybe we could put houses where they would build.” “Of course,” replied Billy; “and we could keep a small bath tub full of water for them.” “What fun!” exclaimed Mary Frances. “Billy, do you know how to build the right kind of houses for each different kind of bird?” “No, I do not,” answered Billy; “I know of only a few. They are the ones our manual training teacher showed us. I have some pictures right here in my book. It’s queer I didn’t think of them!” “Let me see,” cried Mary Frances. “Oh, Billy, will you make some later on?” “I’m to make them in school next term,” explained Billy. “Mr. Carpenter, our teacher, told me about these houses one day when we were out walking. We happened to talk of what Professor Weed had told us in a lecture on birds, you see.” “Do let me read about these houses,” begged Mary Frances, looking over his shoulder at the picture of— A ROBINS’ SLEEPING PORCH Robin Redbreast will not live in an enclosed house, but desires merely a shelter where the family can have plenty of fresh air. “I believe in living out-of-doors,” says Mrs. Robin Redbreast, “and I shall not send the children to school in a schoolhouse, no matter how sanitary. They shall be educated in the open air. There is a lot more to be learned outdoors than indoors.” [Illustration: ROBINS’ SLEEPING PORCH] A BUNGALOW FOR WRENS [Illustration: WRENS’ BUNGALOW] Jenny Wren and her husband like a little perch to rest upon before entering their home. In order to keep the English sparrow from being inquisitive and troublesome, make the entrance only 1 inch in diameter where Mr. and Mrs. Sparrow cannot enter. “They are not a bit nice neighbors,” fusses gentle Jenny Wren. “They pick a quarrel over nothing, then peck our family to pieces if they can.” THE MARTENS’ HOTEL Do not charge Mr. and Mrs. Marten for lodgings. Instead be thankful that they bring their friends and relations with them, for Martens come in companies and love to linger where invited. They destroy myriads of insects. [Illustration: MARTENS’ HOTEL] THE BLUE BIRDS’ COTTAGE