PART II.--_The Bird.

A chirp, a twitter, a flash of wings, Four wide-open mouths in a nest; From morning till night she brings and brings For growing birds, they are hungry things-- Aye! hungry things at the best.

The crack of a rifle, a shot well sped; A crimson stain on the grass; Four hungry birds in a nest unfed-- Ah! well, we will leave the rest unsaid; Some things it were better to pass.