222 THE DAILY LIFE OF OUR FARM. 



escape the evils of influenza, a chill, and so forth, flying 

 hotly around and about, and then just settling on an 

 exposed branch in mid-air for their nocturnal slumbers ? 

 I suppose they can close and open their plumage like 

 Venetian blinds at will. I wish I wore feathers — or 

 rather I wish the children did ! how much cheaper and 

 more satisfactory it would be for us fond parents ! and if 

 they would only perch to sleep instead of requiring new 

 rooms to be furnished, that would be better still, and if 

 they would go under the bushes and nestle quietly on a 

 rainy day, why that would be best of all. I am in the 

 way of being reminded to-day. The youngsters are just 

 indulging in an exclamation on finding only one side of 

 their toast done. "Her sweetheart is dead," they 

 explain to me. But what I am reminded of is the high 

 art of a clever groom I once had from a hunting esta- 

 blishment, who, though capable of anything in the way 

 of turning out a horse, became gradually too indolent to 

 attend to his duties. He went from me to the service 

 of an old dowager in Cheltenham, where his idleness 

 culminated in his using thought and pains to clean only 

 one side of the horse and carriage — viz., that which was 

 next the door on driving up. Another illustration of 

 abused intelligence ! Chicks again ; how they do inter- 

 rupt one ! this time to announce the fact of a robin 

 having actually made a nest, and laid five eggs, in a 

 neighbour's garden house. Wondrous fact, setting forth 

 the precocity of the season ; but to take a philosophical 

 and thoughtful view of the subject — will this said robin 

 after the first brood is hatched consider herself a widow, 

 and set out her weed-ornamentation for a second catch ; 

 or will she impose upon Squire Redbreast the main- 

 tenance of a second lot ? 



