“They know that I love them,” she replied simply.
“I can’t get anything but the camp-robbers to come near me,” said Andy.
“It takes time and patience, Andy. As soon as the birds are assured that you mean them no harm, they are eager to be your friends. You’ll remember, Dad told you that without plants man could not live,” she went on. “It is equally true that if all the birds should perish, man would soon follow. And, still more wonderful, if we had no insects man could not survive.”
Andy came to a sitting posture. “Do you mean to s’y that we would die if we ’ad no insects?” he asked incredulously.
“Surely, Andy, you haven’t forgotten what Dad told you last Sunday about the insects carrying the pollen from flower to flower,” reproved Connie.
“I ’ave it now!” cried Andy, after a few moments of reflection. “If we ’ad no insects to carry the pollen the plants couldn’t live. And if the birds were all gone ther’d be so many insects that they’d eat up every blinkin’ thing the farmers raised, and we’d starve to death.”
Connie nodded.
“Strike me ’andsome if it ain’t wonderful!” said Andy in an awed voice.
Connie explained very simply to Andy the benefits derived by mankind from the various birds. Her discourse proved so interesting to him that he paid little heed to the time until the sun, disappearing behind the trees, warned him that it was time to return to his duties. Regretfully he arose and turned to the trail, Connie walking by his side. A goldfinch, rich in his summer plumage of bright yellow, black and white, hung swaying like a dainty sprite on a slender stem near the path. From its bulging little throat came a rippling, bubbling song like a miniature torrent of ecstasy.
“Dear, dear, dearie,” he called sweetly.