6 The CcMry. 



hut for it might never be undertaken ! Seeing and 

 knowing little, many a child, we feel assured, would 

 naturally be led to desire to know more. Books thereon, 

 as a natural consequence, would be sought after with 

 avidity, and read with profit and delight, which but for 

 the canaries might probably lie idle and unlooked into 

 on the shelf. As the cost is so trifling, the pleasure so 

 great, the interest never ceasing, and the effect so good, 

 we feel persuaded that the idea only requires to be sug- 

 gested for many to carry it out in practice in their nur- 

 series and homes. At any rate, should any be led to 

 make the experiment, we can promise them a golden 

 mine of amusement and delight, which those who have 

 never tried it would little credit or suspect. As Robert 

 Nicholl sang of its kindred finch — the linnet — so may 

 we, with equal or greater truth, say of the canary : 



" Some humble heart is sore and sick with grief, 

 And straight thou earnest with thy gentle song, 

 To wile the sufferer from its hate or wrong, 

 By bringing nature's love to his relief. 

 Thou churmest by the sick child's window long 

 Till aching pain itself be wooed to sleep ; 

 And when away have vanished flower and leaf. 

 Thy lonely wailing voice for them doth weep — 

 Linnet, wild linnet ! 



" God saw how much of woe, and grief, and care, 

 Man's faults and follies on the earth would make ; 

 And thee, sweet singer, for His creature's sake, 

 He sent to warble wildly evei-ywhere. 

 And by our souls to love to Vv^ake. 

 Oh ! blessed wandering spirit ! unto thee 

 Pure hearts are knit, as unto things too fair 

 And good and beautiful of earth to be — 



Linnet ! wild linnet ! " 



