feMRACTS FROM Atf ANONYMOUS JOURNAL. 



accounts for their unsuspecting nature. Often have 1 

 caught them, and having tied some tiny bells to their 

 feet, let them go* On one occasion, now many years 

 ago, I saw a solitary pigeon picking up some corn or 

 rice on the floor of a small untenanted room in our 

 house. An irresistible impulse to possess it took hold 

 of me, and I shut the door and flushed the bird, which 

 in mortal fright dashed about from one corner to 

 another. I did not notice that there was an old window 

 with a gap wide enough to allow the bird to escape. 

 It was however, too late ; the pigeon had already gone. 

 But as ill luck would have it, when struggling to get out, 

 it was pounced upon by a large torn cat, one of those 

 half-wildj half-domesticated creatures which prowl about 

 every house in every village in Bengal. The poor bird 

 lay bleeding and lacerated ; its convulsive flutterings 

 every now and then indicating great agony. The 

 sight almost paralysed me, but there was no time 

 for reflection. My greatest anxiety then was how 

 best to conceal the fact of the accident from 

 my mother, who> tenderly as she loved me, would have 

 been shocked to hear that I had brought it about. 

 Having therefore gently picked up the bird I ran to- 

 wards the farthest end of the garden, and laid it by the 

 side of a small well. As I was preparing to wash the 

 wound, I was overjoyed to see dear old Janardan before 

 me. He had already taken the bird in his hand and 

 was examining its injuries. What a relief it was to me 

 lo have the company and help of Janardan at such 



