STOEIES ABOUT BIRDS. 73 



family, wliicli slie continued to do. When the 

 birds were getting large enough to fly, they 

 were placed in the hall of the house, and the 

 door left open through the day; and here the 

 mother continued to come and feed them, until 

 cold weather forced the family to close the door. 

 The birds were still kept in the cage, and the 

 next season what was their surj)rise, to see the 

 same bird return, and as she was wont to do, 

 Drinsf them food, not havinof, as is usual, foro;ot- 

 ten her progeny." 



My little friend, I know you are interested in 

 this bird. I will not do you so much injustice 

 as to doubt that 3^ou love him, and that you are 

 delighted with his cheerful notes. Well, then, 

 3'ou are doubtless prepared to listen to some 

 words which I have ventured to put into his 

 mouth, and which, I frankly confess, one does 

 not often hear in his usual, every-day, out-of- 

 door sonoj : 



o 



A Yellow Bird complained one day 

 That he was not contented — 



That, though he sang a cheerful lay, 

 His fate he oft lamented. 



7 



