STORIES ABOUT BIRDS. 213 



"O ever thus from childhood's hour 



I've seen my fondest hopes decay; 

 I never loved a tree or flower, 



But 'twas the first to fade away; 

 I never nursed a dear gazelle, 



To glad me with its soft, blue eye. 

 But when it came to know me well. 



And love me, it was sure to die." 



I said I hoped I had never had a fault-find- 

 ing spirit, when I thought of these hues. It 

 would be very wrong to have such a spirit. 

 There may be truth in the poetry ; but there is 

 no reason why we should complain, if it is 

 true. God takes away the things that we 

 love ; and it would be a sin against him to find 

 fault with our lot, when we suffer such losses. 

 Though it is true that our great and good Cre- 

 ator and Governor often takes away the objects 

 which we love the most, it is equally true that 

 he does all tilings well, and many of the losses 

 which cost us so much pain at the time, are 

 calculated to make us better, and to fit us for 

 heaven. 



