But how to get a drink to four baby robins in the old apple tree--that was
a problem that Mary Jane couldn't figure out all at once. But she didn't
give up, no, sir! She thought and thought, and then she spied the hose
lying in the back yard.

The very thing!

Quick as a minute, she ran down the stairs, out the kitchen door and over
to the hose. Yes, just as she had hoped, it was attached and ready for
use. She ran up to the house wall, turned on the water (it took all her
strength, but she didn't mind that), took one good look up at the apple
tree to see just where the nest was, and then turned the hose that way.

But something didn't seem just right. Instead of liking it, and being very
still because they were getting a good cold drink, those stupid robin
babies chirped and cried and acted far from pleased.

"I know," thought Mary Jane, "they want it like rain," and she turned the
hose nozzle high and straight so that the water would come down on the top
of the nest.

But that wasn't any better or even as good as the first try; for the water,
instead of coming down on the apple tree, came straight and wet onto Mary
Jane herself! She was so startled that she screamed and dropped the hose
without a thought of the robins she had meant to help.

And then there _was_ a commotion! Mr. Merrill, who had come home for some
papers he had forgotten, came running around the house; Father Robin darted
out from the hedge and made straight for his nest; Mother Robin hurried up
from the pine tree in Doris's yard and Mrs. Merrill, tea towel still in