THE PET BIRDS OF ST. AUGUSTINE. 149 



there was nothing to alarm or startle, and the birds soon 

 became fearless. Then/ she added, &quot; my son noticed 

 what I was doing and joined me, and by degrees, the 

 birds learned to know him and trust him as they did me. 

 After they had been feeding round the door for some 

 time, I put some of the crumbs in my hand and held it 

 perfectly still. Then they hopped up and began to eat 

 from my fingers. I knew I had their hearts then. 

 Finding I never tried to catch them, they came into the 

 house, twittered about and fed without fear. I now 

 began to call them, and as the little creatures knew this 

 meant food (for I never disappointed them), they learned 

 to know my voice and came readily at my call.&quot; 



Mrs. H. informed me that this continued for some 

 time, when strangers heard of it, and began to drive out 

 to see her pets ; perfect quiet was enjoined, and the touch 

 ing or catching of any bird was carefully prohibited. 

 The little creatures were perfectly fearless, coming at 

 her call, no matter who was there, and fluttering and 

 twittering about her. Many people had been there and 

 seen it, and, said she, &quot;I have received many letters 

 inquiring my method of so completely taming wild wood 

 birds, but there is nothing about it, no charm, only 

 kindness and perfect freedom from harm or annoyance.&quot; 

 The birds went north in the spring, and this had been 

 the first year Mrs. H. tried feeding them, and accident 

 and loneliness had brought about this pleasant friendship. 

 &quot; I do hope it won t be broken off,&quot; she added earnestly, 

 &quot; I want the birds to come back. I have learned to 

 love them, so I could not bear them to forget me.&quot; 



Such was her story. I assured her that many, if not 

 all her birds, would return, and very likely bring their 

 little ones with them, that such were their habits, and 



