ALONG FOUR-FOOTED TRAILS 



canary. I listened for a long time and then arose 

 and lit a light to search for the stranger, the 

 hidden songster. The song ceased when I be- 

 gan to move about and I had my trouble for my 

 reward. Night after night I was serenaded by 

 this mysterious nocturnal musician. The whole 

 family heard it and joined me in the search for 

 its source. All our attempts to solve the mys- 

 tery of the peculiar sweet strain were futile until 

 one evening I went to take my hat from a closet 

 shelf when I heard the same shrill little song. 

 Before my eyes sat dear little Quaker! Her 

 little throat was actually pouring forth the sweet 

 refrain. I called out in my surprise and then 

 she turned and fled. She had made a nest in 

 my rather expensive hat, the first one I had ever 

 possessed to which I could attach much value. 

 But Quaker had demonstrated herself a singer. 

 Whether she sang through grief at the loss of 

 her mate, or with joy at being freed from matri- 

 monial bonds, or through happiness for freedom, 

 I cannot say. She was recaptured after a time 

 but while I had her she never sang again. I 

 have never been able to determine whether she 

 lost her power of song through loss of liberty, 

 [44] 



