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their captivity, with its several advantages, to freedom without them. 

 The advantages of captivity to a bird are three; viz., abundant food 

 supply, protection from enemies, ease of life — without labor or 

 concern about weather. 



The conditions, therefore, necessary to his happiness are : Never- 

 failing care as to his physical comforts — such as a proper situation 

 of the cage. — neither in the hot sunshine nor in a draught; fresh 

 and perfect food, with variety ; plent}^ of fresh water ; suitable and 

 regular bath, etc. And secondly — though perhaps it should be first, 

 as it is most important — treatment as if he were a sentient being, 

 instead of a piece of furniture ; talking to him, taking notice of him, 

 making a companion and friend of him. And thirdly, the freedom of 

 a room, at least part of every day. 



Under these conditions, as I know from close and sympathetic 

 observation, our little brothers can be made so happy, that, as I 

 said, many of them will not accept their liberty. They choose 

 between freedom, with hard labor and many anxieties, and comfort- 

 able captivity, with ease and security, and many decide — as do 

 many of the human family — for the former. 



There is another reason why I have become partially tolerant 

 of the caging of birds. What first influenced me was the fact that 

 every individual rescued from the discomforts of a bird store, where 

 they are seldom well cared for and never cherished, is greatly bene- 

 fitted, and I felt that to be a work of charity. 



But there is one strong argument in favor of the custom. That 

 is, their great value as a means of educating children. Nothing is 

 more important than the training of our youth in humanity and 

 respect for the rights of others. And in no way can this be so well 

 accomplished as by giving to them the care of pets. By investiga- 

 tion of prisons and reform schools, it has been amply proved that 

 nothing so surely keeps a boy from falling into a criminal life as 

 the care of and kindness to the lower orders. The daily care of a 

 pet bird is a daily lesson in altruism which never fails to bear fruit. 



In those precious first years of the child's life, when the mother 

 has the power of instilling lessons that will be a part of him, — the 

 most indelible he will ever receive, — if she takes a little pains to do 

 so she can implant, with the love of creatures dependent upon him, 

 qualities that will go far to make him a true, manly man. 



While these considerations do not, perhaps, make it right to deprive 

 a fellow creature of his liberty, they do furnish a little consolation 

 to those who love humanity as well as birds. At the same time I 

 must admit, that of all pitiful sights on earth, that of a neglected 

 captive is one of the most heartrending. 



