Our YorJisliire Spangles and Norwich Yellow. 33 



the self-denial and feeling love which she thus mani- 

 fested in her widowhood and distress for the aged song- 

 ster, who thus recalled the recollection of better times 

 and brighter hopes, and gladly gave her a portion of 

 that bounty which had been entrusted to my charge. 

 So far as I could see, it appeared to be 



*' The one green spot in her memory's waste/* 

 and long may it be ere this remaining link in her life's 

 existence be severed from her grasp. How sweetly does 

 Mrs. Hemans sing those alone can understand who, 

 like Byron, have felt solitary " amidst the crowd and 

 hum and shock of men : 



" Give me but 



Something whereunto T may bind my heart, 



Something to love, to rest upon — to clasp 



Affection's tendrils round !" 



This is no solitary instance. The poor bird will often, 

 we feel convinced, be the last thing parted with by 

 those long-enduring and heroically patient men. Any- 

 how, the breeding of them is, as we have said, an 

 enthusiastic and often profitable pursuit. Exhibitions 

 are held and prizes are given by societies formed for the 

 purpose, which, as the ' Times' lately remarked, is a 

 vast step in the way of civilisation, and infinitely in 

 advance of the cock-fighting and bull-baiting of former 

 days. For lack of support by the upper classes of 

 society, and for want of suitable room anywhere else, 

 I am sorry to say these are chiefly held at some public- 

 house or tavern, whose landlord finds it to his interest 

 to give a considerable sum, that the meetings may be 

 held at his house. Thus I have now before me a bill 



3 



