A vision floated before him. Margot’s earnest face and tear-dimmed eyes; her lips speaking: “If I had father or mother anywhere--nothing should ever make me leave them. I would bear everything--but I would be true to them.” An instant later a peal rang through that silent house, such as it had not echoed in many a day. What would be the answer to it? [TO BE CONTINUED] _Wood-Folk Talk_ By J. ALLISON ATWOOD ROBIN’S RED BREAST Although you are all in the habit of referring to Robin as “Redbreast,” do you not often wonder why the baby Robin always has a spotted breast so very different from his parent? True, he does not keep it very long, but why, then, should he wear it at all? At one time Robin did not live in our yards and orchards as he does at present, but remained in the deeper woods, as his cousin Wood-thrush does now. In those times, of course, he did not have his bright red breast, but was clothed in a spotted plumage very similar to Wood-thrush. To narrate much of Robin’s history would make a very long story, but we can at least tell what brought about the change in his dress. Besides being first cousins, Robin and Wood-thrush had lived close together all their lives, and it is only natural that they should be fast friends, as they were, until that eventful year when Bluebird arrived in Birdland. Of course, from the very first, folks made a great deal of fuss over this newcomer, and the wonder of it is that Bluebird’s head was not turned by the attentions showered upon him instead of remaining the same modest fellow he is to-day. Naturally, everyone wished to be as well acquainted as possible with the beautiful stranger, but in spite of his courageous song of “Cheer! cheer!” there was always a touch of sadness about Bluebird which folks could not understand, so that they never felt quite at home in his presence. Now, among the birds who thus wished to become intimate with Bluebird, there was no one more conspicuous than Robin. Indeed, some folks thought that he made himself ridiculous by the way he toadied to the newcomer. But even this talk did not deter him. When, therefore, he learned later that Bluebird and himself were members of the same family, he could not conceal his pride. But he had no more reason to be proud than Wood-thrush, for he, too, was a relative of Bluebird. Still, as time went on, Robin thought more and more of his new cousin, and it was noticed that he paid less attention than formerly to the other birds. Most of them, of course, did not mind this, for they thought that he would soon come to his senses and be the same hearty fellow he had been before Bluebird came. But, instead, Robin became prouder than ever, and the way he followed and imitated Bluebird would certainly have provoked that person had he not been a model of patience.