THE HERO ENTERS SUDDENLY 



From the earliest stages of my acquaint- 

 ance with my little feathered friend, he gave 

 evidences of the deepest affection for me. 

 Even as a mere baby, when opportunity of- 

 fered, he would nestle down on my shoul- 

 der, where he would keep up a tender little 

 chattering and cooing; and another favor- 

 ite perch of his, particularly while I wrote, 

 was the back of my left hand. Here, also, 

 he would cuddle down as in a nest, While his 

 head would turn from side to side the 

 bright eyes watching, now my face and 

 again the progress of my writing and 

 much of the time his rippling little song 

 kept pace with the sound of my pen. 



If f he could have had his way he would al- 

 ways have been with human beings, and 

 there was never the slightest indication that 

 he longed for any birthright joys of which 

 he had been deprived; nevertheless, when 

 the cold autumn days came, the friend who 

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