Original title page

Bird Children
The Little Playmates
of the Flower Children

Bird
Children

The Little Playmates
of the Flower Children

By

Elizabeth Gordon

Drawings by

M.T.Ross

Published by
P.F.Volland & Company
Chicago

Copyright 1912
P. F. Volland & Company
All Rights Reserved

Sixth Edition

To all children who loveBirds and Flowers, andespecially to my little friendDorothy Virginia,this book is lovingly dedicated.

FOREWORD

IRDS are only anotherexpression of God’s love,and we are told that noteven a sparrow shall fallto the ground without the notice ofthe Father.

Birds are poetry come to life andset to music. If you should standat the edge of a forest at sundownand hear the birds singing theirgood-night songs, hear the sleepylittle notes grow fainter and fainteruntil the silence came,—then whenthe dusk had deepened, you shouldhear the night birds begin theirplaintive songs, you would realizewhat a different place our beautifulworld would be without birds.

Even in great cities we havealways some birds. The saucy littlesparrow, who comes so boldly beggingcrumbs at your window, likesthe cities best.

Only very thoughtless people, orthose who do not understand, wouldharm or frighten a bird.

They are real little people, andI am sure that when you have cometo know them you will love them asmuch as you have learned to lovethe Flower Children.

The publishers and the authorhave received so many letters fromparents commending Flower Childrenfor its instructive features, andfrom children, demanding “more”delightful play-mates, that they offer“Bird Brothers and Sisters,” believingthat “The little playmates of theFlower Children” will prove as welcomevisitors as “The Little Cousinsof the Fields and Garden.”

The author and the artist wish tothank the children for their manyexpressions of interest and for theirloyal support.

ELIZABETH GORDON
M. T. ROSSBETH GORDON

BIRD CHILDREN

11

...