IN THE NORTH COUNTRY 



man and that whatever the fate that finally 

 overtook them they never again knew the agonies 

 of imprisonment. 



I cannot tell you how often during my strolls 

 through the village and beyond its precincts I am 

 tempted to emulate the kind-hearted little girl's 

 example to the extent, at least, of opening the 

 prison-doors and setting all but the disabled or 

 aged captives free. To buy the trapped birds 

 would only be to encourage the wretched traffic, 

 while to liberate them would perhaps discourage 

 it. I have reasoned and expostulated with the 

 owners of these unfortunate prisoners, doing my 

 best to represent the misery of being compelled 

 to gaze from behind prison-bars upon the joy and 

 happiness of companions in freedom, but all to no 

 purpose. "Croyez-moi, Madame, Us ne sont pas 

 malhereux, ces oiseaux-la" is the not-at-all reas- 

 suring assurance I invariably receive. 



Speaking of strolls beyond village precincts, 

 I must tell you of a walk I recently took, ac- 

 companied by my little Chihuahuan, the guardian 

 of the table d'hote. We could not think of ex- 

 cluding her from our party when planning for 

 this northern outing; and the joys that are hers in 

 the companionship of her dear ones, to say noth- 



