A Street Troubadour 



of the novel. In the Square was the cab-stand, 

 and scattering near were usually more or less 

 horsehairs. These seemed to be good and 

 original linings. A most happy thought, and 

 with appropriate enthusiasm the ever-hopeful 

 couple set about gathering horsehairs, two or 

 three at a time. Possibly the nest of a Chip- 

 ping Sparrow in one of the parks gave them 

 the idea. The Chippy always lines with horse- 

 hair, and gets an admirable spring-mattress 

 effect by curling the hair round and round the 

 inside of the nest. The result is good, but one 

 must know how to get it. It would have been 

 well had the Sparrows learned how to handle 

 the hair. When a Chippy picks up a horsehair 

 to bring home it takes only one at a time, and 

 is careful to lift it by the end, for the harmless- 

 looking hair is not without its dangers. The 

 Sparrows had no notion of handling it except as 

 they did the straw. Biddy seized a hair near the 

 middle, found it somewhat long, so took a sec- 

 ond hold, several inches away. In most cases 

 this made a great loop in the hair over her head 

 or beyond her beak. But it was a convenient 

 way to manage, and at first no mischief came, 



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