56 love's meinie. 



the least disposed, and the least able, to stop 

 to pick anything up. What will it build with ? 

 Gossamer, we should say, — thistledown,— 

 anything it can catch floating, like flies. 

 But it builds with stiff clay. 



53. And observe its chosen place for building 

 also. You would think, by its play in the air, 

 that not only of all birds, 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 agony 

 to it ; that it would almost expire of horror at 

 the sight of a black hole. 



And 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 your house because in no wild 

 wood, nor rough rock, can it find a cavity 

 close enough to please it. It comes for the 

 blessedness of imprisonment, and the solem- 

 nity of an unbroken and constant shadow, in 

 the tower, or under the eaves. 



