46 love's meinie. 



its nest. A creature, observe, whose life is to be passed 

 in the air ; whose beak and throat are shaj)ed with the 

 fineness of a net for tlie catching of gnats ; and whose 

 feet, in the most perfect of the species, are so feeble that 

 it is called the Footless Swallow, and cannot stand a 

 moment on the ground with comfort. Of all land birds, 

 the one that has least to do with the earth ; of all, the 

 least disposed, and the least able, to stop to pick anything 

 np. AMiat will it build with? Gossamer, we should 

 sav, — thistledown, — anvthino; it can catch floatino;. like 

 ' flies. 



But it builds with stiff clay. 



53. And oljser^■e its chosen place for building also. 

 You would think, by its play in the air, that not only of 

 all Ijirds, but of all creatures, it most delighted in space 

 and freedom. You would fancy its notion of the place 

 for a nest would be the openest field it could find ; that 

 anything like confinement would be an asrony to it : that 

 it would almost expire of horror at the sight of a black 

 hole. 



xVnd its favourite home is down a chimney. 



54. Not for your hearth's sake, nor for your company's. 

 Do not think it. The bird will love you if you treat it 

 kindly ; is as frank and friendly as bird can be ; but it 

 does not, more than others, seek your society. It comes 

 to vour house because in no wild wood, nor rouo^h rock, 

 can it find a cavity close enough to please it. It comes 

 for the blessedness of impi-isonment, and the solemnitv 



