different. It made her think that it was curious how much nicer a
person looked when he smiled. She had not thought of it before.
He turned about to the orchard side of his garden and began to
whistle a low soft whistle. She could not understand how such a surly
man could make such a coaxing sound.
Almost the next moment a wonderful thing happened. She heard a soft
little rushing flight through the air and it was the bird with the red
breast flying to them, and he actually alighted on the big clod of
earth quite near to the gardener s foot.
Here he is, chuckled the old man, and then he spoke to the bird as if
he were speaking to a child.
Where has tha been, tha cheeky little beggar? he said. I ve not
seen thee before today. Has tha begun tha courtin this early in th
season? Tha rt too forrad.
The bird put his tiny head on one side and looked up at him with his
soft bright eye which was like a black dewdrop. He seemed quite
familiar and not the least afraid. He hopped about and pecked the earth
briskly, looking for seeds and insects. It actually gave Mary a queer
feeling in her heart, because he was so pretty and cheerful and seemed
so like a person. He had a tiny plump body and a delicate beak, and
slender delicate legs.
Will he always come when you call him? she asked almost in a whisper.
Aye, that he will. I ve knowed him ever since he was a fledgling. He
come out of th nest in th other garden an when first he flew over
th wall he was too weak to fly back for a few days an we got
friendly. When he went over th wall again th rest of th brood was
gone an he was lonely an he come back to me.
What kind of a bird is he? Mary asked.
Doesn t tha know? He s a robin redbreast an they re th friendliest,
curiousest birds alive. They re almost as friendly as dogs if you know
how to get on with em. Watch him peckin about there an lookin round
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