The Black Swans 



green back and wings, white breast, 

 black-and-white speckled neck and red 

 crest is usually to be found on the 

 table just back of the big, soft-cush- 

 ioned davenport standing always in- 

 vitingly before the fire-place. I don't 

 know just what the ware is called, but 

 it is highly glazed and of English 

 origin, and the bird mourns not lost 

 freedom. The swans of iron complete 

 our present list of household pets. 



I am sure the old clock quite ap- 

 proves. If you must have birds, in a 

 country place especially, buy them at 

 any good department store. Leave 

 nests alone. Let the oaks and elms 

 and maples be your cages. They do 

 not crush and break bird health and 

 hearts, and my word for it a china 

 cat. 



I think you have now been intro- 

 duced to all the members of the house- 

 hold excepting certain pictures, books 

 and spirits that are an intimate part 

 of life at Dumbiedykes. You see I am 

 [108] 



