58 HISTORY OF 



Thus, ev'ry kind their pleasure find ; 



The savage and the tender : 

 Some social join, and leagues combine j 



Some solitary wander. 



This conversation was scarcely finished, when Ra- 

 chelj with more earnestness than usual, inquired 

 whether Sarah had taken in her linnets ; for she that 

 moment recollected that she had carelessly left them 

 abroad, when she went from home. '^ They are safe," 

 replied Mrs. Saville ; " but, my dear girl, you have 

 been on the point of losing them both." Rachel's 

 cheeks flushed deeper red than usual at this intelli- 

 gence. " You had left Robert at liberty," continued 

 Mrs. Saville, " and by some accident the fastening of 

 Henry's cage was undone ; and just as Fanny was 

 bringing home the cows across the lawn, she perceived 

 him at the cage-door, ready to join his friend. She 

 hastened towards him, before he had time to escape." 



In order to make this account intelligible, I must 

 tell you the history of Rachel's linnets. They were 

 caught by a nephew of her father's, when a school- 

 boy, who is since dead ; and, being gi-eat favourites 

 wdth their master, Rachel took them under her pro- 

 tection.* These birds are very remarkable for an at- 

 tachment to each other, thougli they have not been 



* Dr. Lettsom related these circumstances in the Monthly 

 Magazine. 



