A "FAIRY" STORY. 63 



can they obtain a tame, happy little pet bird 

 such as my whitethroat now is ? " I can only 

 reply, such a thing is not to be bought (or 

 very rarely) for any amount of money, but can 

 be attained by any one who will bring up a young 

 fledgling from its earliest youth, with never- 

 failing love and gentleness. There is no secret 

 about it ; it is not a gift bestowed on some and 

 withheld from others, as many seem to suppose, 

 judging from the number of times I have been 

 told, " Oh, you have the gift of taming creatures." 

 I always disclaim the assertion and tell the simple 

 truth, that just as you seek to win the heart of a 

 child by invariable and patient kindness, so these 

 innocent dumb brethren of ours yield us their 

 devoted love if they meet with similar treatment 

 at our hands. 



We must not begin the task of bringing up a 

 young bird without counting the cost beforehand. 

 It means rising every morning between four and 

 five, and having little sleep afterwards, for we 

 must imitate the self-denying industry of the 

 mother-bird in providing food for her young ones, 

 If we look out over the dewy lawns at daybreak 



