198 Next to the Ground 



Partly because of the wish, he set a dozen 

 traps in the hedgerows, and around the hay- 

 stacks. Whatever he caught, he promised 

 himself, should have food and shelter through 

 the snow, and liberty afterward. He was the 

 least bit sorry for the promise when he found 

 redbirds in two of the traps pretty soon after 

 they were set. Patsy had wanted a redbird 

 for a pet this ever and ever so long. Joe 

 decided before he laid hands on the fine fel- 

 lows to tell Patsy of his promise, then give 

 her the birds, and leave her own conscience 

 to do the rest. 



The birds were cardinals, as gorgeous as 

 their namesakes and as warlike as any car- 

 dinal that ever wore the red robe. They bit 

 Joe's fingers so hard they drew blood, and 

 tried to peck him savagely in the eye, as he 

 was huddling them inside his overcoat. Once 

 they were inside the roomy cage, they flew at 

 each other in fury, each seeming to regard his 

 fellow as an upstart intruder, somehow the 

 cause of his own evil case. In separating 

 them for the sake of peace, Patsy let the most 

 savage of them get away. It flew to the very 

 top of the room, and clung there with its crest 

 up, scolding vigorously at all the people in 

 sight. A little later it flew back to the outside 

 of the cage, stuck his head as near through 

 the bars as possible, ruffled its feathers menac- 



