﻿THE BROKEN WINDOW. 35 



had been purposely let out of its cage to enjoy the liberty of flying 

 round the apartment. 



After his father was gone, Charles sat down and kept his eyes on 

 the bird. When some one came to the door he opened and shut 

 it very quickly, so that the canary might not escape. But it 

 happened that some street idler had thrown a stone against the 

 window and broken one of the top squares. This had not been per- 

 ceived by either Charles or his father. The bird, in its flight around 

 the room, feeling the fresh air, flew through the opening, and, in a 

 moment, tasted the pleasure of freedom, in a bright sunshine and 

 fragrant air. 



Charles was not to blame for the bird's escape ; but he felt sorry 

 it was gone, and was fearful that his father might not believe his 

 story, or else, that he would suspect him to have broken the window 

 himself. These were wrong thoughts ; he ought to have had con- 

 fidence enough in himself to simply state the truth to his father, arid 

 not doubt his belief in the statement. But, like many other boys, he 

 was suspicious that his father would not take his word. 



So he set out to recover the lost bird. There was a net in the 

 house which had been used to catch birds, and, armed with this, the 

 boy set out on his hopeless expedition. 



He soon saw the canary perched upon a tree. Very softly he 

 approached it, and began to climb the trunk; just as he was in the 

 act of throwing his net over the bird, it flew away, and, crossing the 

 garden wall, perched upon the branch of a cherry tree, with a look 

 which seemed to say " Catch me if you can." 



Charlie was puzzled. The bird was in the garden. He had been 

 forbidden to enter it on any account ; but the bird was there, and 

 after a moment's hesitation in he rushed and began a grand pursuit 

 after the lost bird. Getting excited in his efforts, he forgot all cau- 

 tion, and plunged across the beds and among the flowers, making 

 great havoc, and spoiling many choice things, which his father had 

 carefully reared. In the midst of this hot pursuit, his father stood 

 at the garden gate, and shouted, " Charles !" 



Charles halted, looked round, blushed, and approached his father. 

 " Why are you in the garden, contrary to my wishes, Charles ?" 



