34 A GENTLE SPIRIT. 



but what was worse, be could not guide himself 

 well in flight. To facilitate his getting in and 

 out of his cage, I put up a light and dainty lad- 

 der, from the floor to his door. This pleased 

 him greatly, and he used it constantly. 



After the thrush bad become perfectly at 

 home, I added to the family a new bird, some- 

 what larger than himself — a Mexican thrush. 

 Upon opening the door of the stranger's cage, 

 and inducing him to come out and get ac- 

 quainted with us (which I did with some diffi- 

 culty and much coaxing), I discovered that he, 

 too, had suffered at the hands of men. He had 

 lost two or three feathers from his wing, so that 

 while not in the least disfigured, he found it 

 hard to get about. He almost immediately 

 learned to make use of the thrush's doorsteps, 

 and after a day or two made up his mind to 

 live in a house so convenient to reach, and 

 quietly took possession. Once or twice the 

 rightful owner approached the door, but seeing 

 his place occupied calmly retired to the usur- 

 per's cage, and contentedly remained there, 

 showing neither anger nor sulkiness. Of 

 course I attended to his comfort, and provided 

 a second ladder for his use, hoping that the 

 Mexican would return to his own quarters. 

 But he was satisfied where he was, and dis- 

 dained to touch the new ladder. 



