THE CANARY. Ill 



with an angry air ; on which the canary bowed, as we 

 should say, most respectfully to the company. 



" My poor Bijou," said the owner, "thou hast had 

 hard work, and must be weary : a few more perform- 

 ances, and thou shalt repose. Show the ladies how to 

 make a curtsey : — that 's a fine bird ! Now, a bow, 

 head and foot corresponding. Now, a dance : — there, 

 that 's it — keep it up — keep it up ! And now thou hast 

 done all my biddings bravely," he said, as he caressed 

 the little prodigy ; " take a nap while I fill thy place. 

 Again obedience was immediate : the canary first shut 

 one eye, then the other ; then nodded, and dropping so 

 much on one side that the hands of several of the com- 

 pany were stretched out to save it from falling, when, 

 just as they approached its feathers, it suddenly reco- 

 vered, and dropped as much on the other. 



At length, sleep seemed to fix it in a steady posture ; 

 on which the owner took it from his finger, and laid it 

 flat on the table, where, he affirmed, it would remain in 

 a good sound sleep while he filled up the interval. He 

 now proceeded to drink a glass of wine, but was inter- 

 rupted by the canary springing suddenly up to claim its 

 share, putting its bill into the glass, while the owner 

 called it a saucy fellow ; and then lying down to sleep 

 again. But this extraordinary tale has a melancholy 



