94 TAME DOVES. 



Almost all captive song-birds I have seen, 

 excepting canaries, are sure to flutter more or 

 less when any one approaches their cage, and this 

 instinctive effort to escape shows timidity and 

 unhappiness. I confess I could never find any 

 pleasure in keeping a tiny captive which I knew 

 was breaking its little heart in fruitless longings 

 for fresh air and liberty. 



To show what thoughtful kindness will do 

 in creating happy confidence, I should like to 

 relate the history of my tame doves, Peace and 

 Patience. 



These birds used to belong to a poor woman 

 in our village ; her only means of housing them 

 was in a wooden box with a wire front. It was 

 a wonder that they continued to live in such 

 discomfort ; yet, without a bath, a nest-box, or 

 anything to make their lives pleasant or healthy, 

 they showed the grace of patient endurance by 

 living on with merely their bare allowance of food 

 and water. 



However, they were redeemed at last from 

 their hard bondage, placed in a large wicker 

 cage with plenty of suitable provender, enabled 



