Preparations for Breeding, <§rc. 99 



drop down to his ordinary perch and serenade her with 

 a song, recounting, no doubt, in enraptured strains all 

 the charming qualities of her person and the intolerable 

 sorrows of his state. Then she would answer with a 

 chirp, as though she would assure him she had no ob- 

 jection to his suit, when again he would go his rounds 

 as before. The third day, knowing how "hope de- 

 ferred maketh the heart sick," and that it will not do 

 to trifle with the affections thereof too long, we placed 

 the two cages side by side, when for several hours they 

 were permitted to enjoy a cozy Ute-d-tete through the 

 wires. Loth to lose so golden an opportunity, the gen- 

 tleman, feeling that " a faint heart never wins a fair 

 lady,'^ soon popped the question to his mistress, who 

 in reply twittered out a bashful assent to his suit, when 

 a low sweet warbling declared the engagement com- 

 plete. The doors were then opened ; he hopped into 

 her apartment, and she accompanied him back to his, 

 when having seen all that there was to be seen, and 

 partaken of the daintiest morsels of his larder, they 

 retire to bill and coo together at their leisure, till their 

 happiness is complete. Substituting the cage and aviary 

 for the meadow and the spray, we may apply the lines 

 of the poet to their case. 



« With cheerful hop from spray to spray. 

 They sport along the meads. 

 In social bliss together stray 

 Where love or fancy leads. 



Through spring's gay scenes each happy pair 



Their fluttering joys pursue ; 

 Its various charms and produce share. 



For ever kind and true." 



