254 A Kindergarten Experiment 



home. I spoke, and he instantly responded, but oh, 

 with such a feeble voice. I opened the door of his 

 cage, took him in my hand, and tenderly caressed 

 the poor little sufferer. He tried to raise his head, 

 but was too weak, and it fell back helplessly. He 

 seemed to be trying to tell me his trouble ; but in 

 vain. I knew too well he must be in agony, and 

 that relief was probably near. Peep, peep, came in 

 feeble tones, while every few moments a gentle flutter 

 of the wings showed how sensitive was the sweet 

 nature enshrined within that little frame. I could 

 feel a tremor, like that of a small electric battery, as 

 I held him in my hand, and knew the vibrations 

 were growing less and less each moment. I placed 

 him beside my cheek, where he could feel the 

 warmth of my body, and hear my voice more dis- 

 tinctly ; and there he lay, throbbing and breathing 

 less and less, but apparently conscious, and grateful 

 for my attentions. At all events he did not struggle. 

 Reader, have you ever held the head and felt 

 the pulse of one whom you loved, and knew that 

 the life current was each moment becoming slower 

 and feebler ? 



