48 DEL AGO A BAY, 



miserable swallow flew into the house and 

 perched himself on one of the partitions of 

 the rooms ; then one flew into the kitchen, 

 and my boy caught it and brought it to me. 

 I held the poor mite in my hands for a 

 little while, to warm him, and then let him fly 

 up to his companion in misfortune, by whose 

 side he- at once nestled down. In a few minutes 

 more began to come in, at first singly, then by 

 twos and threes, some fluttering helplessly among 

 the white window curtains and beating them- 

 selves against the glass. These I caught and let 

 fly up to their friends, and was surprised to find 

 that they were not in the least alarmed at being 

 touched, but seemed to like the warmth of the 

 hand, and would perch quite confidingly on my 

 finger, and not attempt to move when I stroked 

 their little heads. 



Many were brought me half dead by women 

 and boys, who had picked them up from the 

 ground, and who all wanted a "pen" (three- 

 pence) for them ; but for answer I only pointed 

 to my fast-filling house, so they laughed and let 



