A SILVER-TONGUED FAMILY THE BLUEBIRD "It will be difficult for you to mistake this little blue-coal for any other bird.

He is 'true blue,' which is as rare a color among birds its it is among flowers.

He is the banner-bearer of Birdland also, and loyally floats the tricolor from our trees and telegraph wires; for, besides being blue, is he not also red and white ?" [Illustration: Bluebird.] "To be sure, his breast is perhaps more brown than red, but when the spring sun shines on his new feathers, as he flits to and fro, it is quite bright enough to be called red.

All sorts and conditions of people love and respect the Bluebird; all welcome him to their gardens and orchards.

The Grossest old farmer, with his back bent double by rheumatism, contrives to bore some auger holes in an old box and fasten it on the side of the barn, or set it up on the pole of his hayrick; while the thrifty villager provides a beautiful home for his blue-backed pets--a real summer hotel, mounted on a tall post above a flower-bed, with gables and little windows under the eaves.
"Why does this bird receive so much attention?
There are many others with gayer plumage and more brilliant songs.