88 The Blackbird thai Bliirlitcd My Life\ 



I reared the young Blackbird and lie had just begun 

 to warble nicely and repay my love and care when his career 

 came to an abru])t conclusion. 



And his end was horrible I 



Rats did vou say? Vcs, rats I I 



In 'the bitterness of my heart I said I would never 

 have another, and for years I kept my word, and then, having 

 growii older and wiser and w(jrse, I listened to temptatic^n. 



The bait 'was a beautiful Blackbird. "Vou simply must 



have it " wrote my friend ," it's a lovely bird, so tame; quite 



a pel; just the sort of bird you like; and a cock, a cock!" 



" No," I replied firmly " I won't, 1 do no good with British 



birds and the Blackbird in jKirlicular, I won't have another." 



Nonsense, you can't refuse this one. He's a perfect 

 beauty, besides," added my friend mysteriously " It's not really 

 a Black-h'wCi, its a white one nearly, and it will bring you 

 luck." 



That did it. 



I wanted a swasticka, and here was one, a white 

 Blackbird! 



How 'charming and original it soimded. 



Yes, I had it — worse, 1 nave it still~IIe came and the 

 inom.ent I caught sight of his chilling confusion a blight fell 

 on me. | 



He was very. \ery handsome in a suit of pure white 

 ticked neatly all over with black, e\ en his )'ello\v beak had 

 little black dots on it; his head was pure white and his tail 

 was black. Hi? eyes were reddish with the most coldly fero- 

 cious stare that ever chilled a loving heart. 



He was quite tame, oh yes! 



He never dashed wildly about his cage. Would take a 

 mealworm or anything I liil<ed to ofler and then bite the hand 

 that gave the dainty with a kind of cold-blooded hate. He 

 would sit on his perch for hours never taking his eyes from 

 me, simply thinking out what form his ultimate revenge would 

 take.. 



