198 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 



so ride home. And this was done not once only, 

 but regularly and as often as he was too late. Once 

 only there was a season of estrangement between 

 the two friends. The bird brought down from 

 the tree three of her young, one of which was 

 too weak to get up again ; and the old man, out of 

 compassion, took the poor little fledgling home 

 with him. Unfortunately it died in the course of 

 the day. A complete change now took place in 

 the conduct of the sparrow. She refused to ap- 

 proach her friend's shop ; in vain he coaxed and 

 called her, tempting her with tit-bits, and trying 

 all his arts to be reconciled. Her former chirp of 

 confidence was changed into a harsh note of re- 

 proach and remonstrance ; and so long did her 

 displeasure last, that the offender began to despair 

 of ever regaining the affection of his pet. But in 

 due time another brood was hatched, and the 

 mother forgot old griefs in her new joys ; the 

 friends were reconciled, and they lived together 

 on the old footing of familiar confidence and 

 goodwill. 



I must own to a special liking for the sparrow. 

 Its attachment to the dwellings of man, the lively 

 and inspiriting sound of its well known " cheer- 

 up," and, in short, the feeling of home connected 

 with it, all form a host of agreeable associations 

 which combine to render the bird dear ; and there 



