Charles E. Burchfield (1893-1967)

robin was in earnest. And so they disconsolately perched in the apple-tree to await their rival’s pleasure. The latter looked all around then calmly got in and took a bath splashing the water in every direction!  I almost laughed outright, when I imagined what the feelings of the sparrows would have been had they been of a discriminating nature. When the robin was satisfied he leisurely got out, shook himself and flew away, after which the sparrows came down and drank. Another time, a parent Robin was at the pan with four full-grown offspring, which however always seem to be at their most helpless age when we expect them to have acquired some self-dependence. By reason of their bigness and helplessness they appear rather ridiculous. On this occasion the old bird was trying to persuade the sparrows to stay away while his little ones satisfied their thirst. He was having a bad time of