240 CITIZEN BIRD 



" Why doesn't she let them out ? " asked Olive. 



" 'Cause she thinks that maybe some of the people 

 that come fishing will buy them." 



" How much does she ask for them ? " said the 

 Doctor. 



" She said if they ever moulted out and got any 

 decent feathers she could ask three dollars for them, 

 but the way they were looking a dollar was all she 

 could expect." 



" Children, shall we have a Liberty Festival this 

 morning ? How would you like for me to buy these 

 birds and bring them here, so that you can see them, 

 then — then what ? " 



" Open the cage and let them out and see what they 

 will do I " screamed Dodo, jumping up and down. 



" May I go down to buy them ? " begged Nat. 



'' You will have to take me, too," said Olive. 



"Can I open the door?" asked Dodo. 



"Here is the dollar — now go, all together," said the 

 Doctor, putting his hands over his ears ; " but if you 

 make so much noise the birds in the river woods will 

 mistake your kind intentions and think you are a 

 family of wildcats." 



In less than half an hour the party returned, Nat 

 carrying the cage, which was only a box with a bit of 

 wire netting over the front. 



" No wonder poor Mrs. Cardinal has a cough, living 

 in this dirty box," said Olive. " See, father, only one 

 perch — and I don't believe the poor things have ever 

 had a bath given them." 



" That is the saddest part of caging wild birds," said 

 the Doctor. " Not one person in fifty is willing to 



