128 OUR HOME PETS 



to open the windows at night and let the 

 room get cool, it was necessary to protect 

 them, and I could not do it unless they were 

 at home. So I occasionally had to catch one 

 in my hand and return him to his cage, which 

 I did not like any better than he did. 



On closer study of my small tenants, I 

 found that after noon they did not move 

 about much, but sat quietly and sang ; so day 

 after day I shut them up earlier and earlier, 

 till at last I found they were just as happy 

 and satisfied to have the door closed at noon 

 as later. That came to be the rule, therefore ; 

 every door was fastened before two o'clock, 

 and the birds almost invariably spent the 

 whole afternoon singing. 



To close the doors without startling and 

 without approaching them (which made some 

 timid ones dash out), I thought out a plan by 

 which I could shut every one without leaving 

 my seat. I fastened, by a loop easily removed, 

 a fine strong twine to each door, and by means 

 of staples or " double tacks " driven into win- 

 dow-casings below the window, I carried each 

 line through its own set of staples around to 

 my desk. Down the side of the desk was a 



