Peeping in among the branches of a small tree, she espied what she called a "live bird's nest." Never having seen any young birds before, she wondered at first "who had picked off their feathers." The wee things seemed to be left to themselves while their mother was away providing supper.
"Haven't they very big stretchy mouths, for such small birdies ?" said Prudy.

"Aren't you afraid they'll crack their mouths in two, gaping so, mamma ?" "They are only hungry, child.

Suppose you feed them with a bit of a berry." Prudy nipped a strawberry into three parts with her thumb and forefinger, and dropped the pieces into their mouths.
"O, mamma, they swallowed it whole! they swallowed it whole! Their teeth haven't come!" Prudy's fresh delight and surprise were so pleasant to witness that her mother allowed her to linger for a while, mincing berries for the nestlings supper.
When, at last, they reached Mrs.Eastman's, Prudy eagerly described the young wonders she had found.
"It was like a story," said she, "of little widow-children,--how the mother was dead, and the children had to stay alone." "Children are never widows," said Susy, laughing; "it isn't possible! But if their parents die, they are orphans sometimes." "That's just what I meant," exclaimed Prudy, looking crestfallen.

"I should think you might know what I mean, 'thout laughing at me, either." Before long Dotty Dimple arrived, in great triumph.

She threw her chubby arms about her mother's neck, saying, "Is I your little comfort, mamma?
I camed in the hoss and carriage.