Ralph used frequently to carry his robin to this garden-house when he was playing about there, and on such occasions he would sometimes hang the cage on a nail out of the window of his loft. He drove the nail himself into the edge of a sort of a shelf, which was near the window on the outside. The shelf was put there for doves to light upon, in going in and out of their house, which was made in the peak of the roof, over Ralph’s loft.
Account of Ralph’s robin.
Ralph caught his robin when he was very young. He caught him in a net. He saw the nest when the birds were first building it. About a week after the birds had finished it, he thought it was time for the eggs to be laid. So he got a ladder, which was usually kept on the back side of the tool-house, and, having planted it against a tree, he began to go up. Just then, his little brother Eddy, who was walking along one of the alleys of the garden near where the bird’s nest was, saw him.
Eddy’s advice.
“Ralph,” said Eddy, “what are you going to do?”
“I’m going to get the eggs out of the nest,” said Ralph.
“No,” replied Eddy, “you must not do that.”
Ralph paid no regard to this, but went on slowly mounting the ladder. The top of the ladder, resting as it did against some of the branches of the tree, was not very steady, and so Ralph could not go up very fast. Besides, Ralph was somewhat afraid of the old birds; for they, seeing that their nest was in danger, were flying about him with very loud chirpings, being apparently in a state of great terror and distress.
“Ralph,” said Eddy, “you must not trouble those birds.”
Ralph went steadily on.