THE CHAFFINCH. 



** The low, sweet singing of a bird, 



The murmur of the breeze, — 

 How soft would glide our fleeting hours, 

 Blest as the sunshine and the flowers, 



And calm as summer seas ! " 



A77ielia. 



The Chaffinch. — Who that has ever read the 

 letter of Michelet to his good wife, in his work en- 

 titled " The Bird," could have failed to read his 

 vivid description of a poor blind chaffinch that was 

 offered for sale in the great bird auction rooms in 

 Paris ? This bird had been a pet ; and poverty in 

 the family had compelled his sale. This bird is one 

 of the many European song-birds, and for the sweet- 

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