208 HER FIRST ADMIRER. 



The home of Virginia, when she came to the 

 bird-room, was a large cage by the window; 

 that of the cardinal being next to it, equally 

 commodious, but a little farther from the light. 

 This personage, her first admirer, made the 

 mistake that larger suitors sometimes fall into, 

 with equally disastrous results, — he " took 

 things for granted." Between the cages was a 

 door, but, to try the temper of the birds, it was 

 at first closed. The cardinal was evidently 

 pleased with his lovely neighbor ; he went as 

 near to her as he could get, and uttered some 

 low remarks, to which she listened, but did not 

 reply. Later, when a meal-worm was given to 

 him, he did not eat it, but held it in his beak, 

 hopped over to her side, tried to get through 

 the wires, and plainly thought of offering it to 

 her. His disposition appearing so friendly, a 

 human hand interposed and opened the door. 

 Instantly he went into her cage, and apparently 

 thinking better of the intended offering he ate 

 it himself, and proceeded to investigate her food- 

 dishes and try the seed, then hopped back and 

 forth between the two cages, and at last selected 

 the perch he preferred and took possession. He 

 paid no attention to her in the way of recogniz- 

 ing her ownership, which he would naturally 

 do to another bird ; he assumed that whatever 

 belonged to the cardinal family belonged to 



