CHORUS BY THE BIRDS Swallows were perching on the same telegraph wires where they had met in May.

Now it was September.

There were Swallows of all kinds, both old and young, with whom a great many other birds stopped for a little chat.
"In a few weeks we must be off--how have you enjoyed the summer ?" asked the Bank Swallow of his sharp-tailed brother from the barn.
"Excellently well! Times have changed for the better; not a single cat or rat has been seen in my hayloft all the season, and the window has been always open." "So you have changed your mind about House People ?" said the Bank Swallow slyly.
"Yes--that is, about _some_ House People." "I wish so many of the Bird Brotherhood did not leave in the winter; it makes me quite sad," murmured the Bluebird.
"Yes.

Stay-at-homes, like yourself and Robins and Finches, must feel very lonely without us," said Barney kindly; "but I think likely these House People will scatter food about, so that at least you will not be hungry--that is, unless they migrate too, as the Catbird says they sometimes do." "Dear, dear! _Think_ of it, _think_ of it!" warbled the Bluebird.
"Zeay! zeay!" screamed the Catbird, flying up.

"N-e-w-s! N-e-w-s! The House People are to stay at our farm all winter! The man who owns this farm, the big girl, and the little girl and boy--and the mother and father bird they belong to--they are all down in the orchard, talking about it now--how they are going to something they call 'school,' over in the village, and how that boy who hops along on one leg with a stick under his wing is going with them." "Did they say anything about the Bird Brotherhood ?" "No, but I heard them say that when the snow falls they are going up to those horrid dark Owl woods to see the foxes and little fur beasts--'Four-footed Americans' our House Man calls them." "He gave me a better name than that," said the Barn Swallow, "one day when he was telling the children about the Brotherhood, over in the old barn.