116 WESTERN SERIES OF READERS. 



easily see that by this method there will be very 

 few young birds, and the sparrows will become 

 more domesticated year by year. 



The custom of driving them into distant and 

 high places to nest is all wrong. We had a friend 

 in the East who made a beautiful portiere, or cur- 

 tain, for her parlor, of English sparrow's eggs. 

 They were blown, and strung on silk cord. 



The children of the city streets who have so 

 little space for home, and see the dark side of 

 every-day life, could get both profit and pleasure 

 from the sparrows. City hospitals could convert 

 their high window-ledges into little farm-yards 

 for the benefit and pleasure of the sick. One 

 could have eggs for breakfast by just opening the 

 window. Foundling hospitals could be supplied 

 with the most nourishing food for the little or- 

 phans. It would be better for school children to 

 see that such provisions are made, than to be 

 stoning the sparrows for nothing but hate. 



" Since man must live, man must eat," and we 

 may eat the English sparrows. But see that we 

 do it with a thought of their good qualities, and 

 a regret that they are not better neighbors to 

 other birds. 



