96 



SYLVIAD^. 



the inside of churches. Jackdaws resort to the towers, 

 but that is for safety ; Owls harbour in the belfry, but 

 that is for concealment ; other birds are sometimes shut 

 into a church and remain there just because they cannot 

 find the way out ; but to the Redbreast a church is a 

 home, he perches on the columns, roosts on the pillars, and 

 pipes with the organ. He knows his way out, but he is 

 content to stay. Would he do so if the church were shut 



THE REDBREAST. 



up and deserted ? I think not. To the Owl and Jackdaw, 

 their place of resort would be all the more attractive from 

 the absence of their common enemy ; but to Robin the 

 solitude would be distasteful, owing to the departure of his 

 friends. In spite of his admitted orthodoxy, it is doubtful 

 whether, under such circumstance^, he would not find the 

 loneliness intolerable, and attach himself to some other 

 congregation. 



