Our Cinnamons. 59 



went down to look at this charming bird again, and 

 highly delighted we all were at the thought she would 

 soon be our own, as we did not doubt about easily 

 coming to terms as to her price. The day following 

 Mr. M had returned, but the owner of the birds had 

 not been. Saturday, and he was sure to come, when 

 our fondest wishes would be realised! Judge then of 

 our disappointment when, on calling the first thing on 

 Monday morning, we heard that Mr. M had not been 

 able to comply with our wishes, as the man insisted 

 that all his birds were cocks, whereas Mr. M con- 

 sidered them to be all hens, which made a considerable 

 difference in their value ! The worst of it was the man 

 was quite a stranger to Mr. M also, who knew not 

 who he was, or where he came from, and now the birds 

 were gone, and our much coveted cinnamon was, to all 

 appearance, a second time, if not for ever, again beyond 

 our reach ! Great was the lamentation over this 

 mishap ; Mr. M tried to console our chagrin by telling 

 us the bird would have done us no good, as it had been 

 kept in too warm a place, and was already beginning 

 to moult, and consequently would not breed this season. 

 No doubt what he said was in some measure true, but 

 we felt it was but sorry comfort after all. We had set 

 our hearts upon having so rare and beautiful a specimen 

 of canaria, and just as we thought we had secured the 

 prize there came the unexpected " slip betwixt the cup 

 and the lip !" 



Time passed on, but instead of bringing balm to our 

 wounded feelings, it rather increased our grief. The 

 more we thought about the matter, the more beautiful 



