82 The Story of Scr aggies 



a subject so intimately associated with 

 this great lover of birds, one of these 

 tiny, helpless, feathered sisters should 

 claim my protecting love? There are 

 those who will see in this more than the 

 mere outward facts, and I shall not 

 be concerned or disturbed if they do. 



The writing of the book was so 

 bound up with the short life of Scraggles 

 that, like an inspiration, I felt I must 

 dedicate it to her. In two minutes 

 after the thought came into my mind I 

 had penned the following dedication, 

 which was published and now appears 

 in my book exactly as I wrote it : 



TO SCRAGGLES 

 MY PET SPARROW AND COMPANION 



Saint Francis, the founder of the Francis- 

 can order, without whom there would prob- 



