212 STORIES ABOUT BIRDS. 



he was sent home. Every morning, after 

 breakfast, lie watched his young master, when 

 he was not shut up; and as soon as the boy 

 started, with his satchel of books, the dove 

 came and flew upon his master's shoulder, as 

 much as to say, "Yes, Charley, I am all 

 ready — I am going to school with you, if you 

 have no objection." 



Whenever Charley had been away and 

 came home, the dove would fly to him in a 

 moment, hop up to his shoulder, caress him, 

 and show, in a gi'eat many ways, how glad he 

 was to see his young master. Frequently, 

 when he found his way into the dining-room, 

 while the family were at table, he took the lib- 

 erty to perch upon the table, near Charley, and 

 sometimes he would stand upon the edge of the 

 little boy's plate or tea-cup. 



Dick came to a dreadful end, at last. The 

 cat caught him, and killed him. What a com- 

 mon thing it is for little pets, like this turtle 

 dove, to die. I have lost a great many pets; 

 and sometimes I have felt sad enough, when 

 one after another was taken away from me. 

 These lines, written by Moore, have come into 

 my mind, a great many times, though I hope 

 I have not thought of them in a complaining 

 and fault-finding spirit : 



