296 HAMPSHIRE DAYS 



pestuous days some of the young had no doubt got 

 scattered and lost ; this at all events was one that had 

 called and called to be fed and warmed and comforted 

 in vain we had heard him calling for days and who 

 had now grown prematurely silent, and had soberly set 

 himself to find his own living as best he could. Be- 

 tween the lawn and the small sweetbriar hedge there 

 was a strip of loose mould where roses had been planted, 

 and here the bird had discovered that by turning over 

 the dead leaves and loose earth a few small morsels 

 were to be found. During those cold, windy, wet days 

 we observed him there diligently searching in his poor, 

 slow, little way. He would strike his beak into the 

 loose ground, making a little hop forward at the same 

 time to give force to the stroke, and throw up about 

 as much earth as would cover a shilling-piece ; then he 

 would gaze attentively at the spot, and after a couple 

 of seconds hop and strike again; and finally, if he 

 could see nothing to eat, he would move on a few inches 

 and begin again in another place. That was all his art 

 his one poor little way of getting a living ; and it was 

 plain to see from his bedraggled appearance and feeble 

 motions, that he was going the way of most young 

 orphaned birds. 



Now, I hate playing at providence among the crea- 

 tures, but we cannot be rid of pity; and there are 

 exceptional cases in which one feels justified in putting 

 out a helping hand. Nature herself is not always care- 

 less of the individual life : or perhaps it would be better 



