and those whose plumage is so torn that it is not fit to put in a fine
lady's bonnet. In some cases where birds have gay wings, and the
hunters do not wish the rest of the body, they tear off the wings
from the living bird, and throw it away to die.

"I am sorry to tell you such painful things, but I think you ought to
know them. You will soon be men and women. Do what you can
to stop this horrid trade. Our beautiful birds are being taken from
us, and the insect pests are increasing. The State of Massachusetts
has lost over one hundred thousand dollars because it did not
protect its birds. The gypsy moth stripped the trees near Boston,
and the State had to pay out all this money, and even then could
not get rid of the moths. The birds could have done it better than
the State, but they were all gone. My last words to you are, '
Protect the birds.'" Mrs. Wood went to her seat, and though the
boys and girls had listened very attentively, none of them cheered
her. Their faces looked sad, and they kept very quiet for a few
minutes. I saw one or two little girls wiping their eyes. I think they
felt sorry for the birds.

"Has any boy done anything about blinders and check-reins?"
asked the president, after a time.

A brown-faced boy stood up. "I had a picnic last Monday," he said;
"father let me cut all the blinders off our head-stalls with my
penknife."

"How did you get him to consent to that?" asked the president.

"I told him," said the boy, "that I couldn't get to sleep for thinking