Our Misfortunes. 127 



together. We put it under another hen who was 

 sitting at the same time, but it came to nothing. For a 

 long while poor Lady Grey seemed quite sad and forlorn, 

 as well she might he to be so deserted by her husband, 

 till at length we took them both out of the aviary 

 together, and placed them in a breeding-cage by them- 

 selves. There she made another nest, but now became 

 ill and out of health, so that she never laid again, and 

 we took them with us into the country for change 

 of air. 



July came, and now we left town for our usual visit 

 to the shires, and so ended all our hopes for the present 

 year. Although our eight hens had laid upwards of 

 eighty eggs, we only succeeded in rearing three birds, 

 which, however, was enough to make us hope for 

 better luck next time, and to keep us from despairing. 

 Our misfortunes were chiefly owing to a series of un- 

 toward accidents, and we felt sure that as all our birds 

 were young ones, and therefore having much to learri, 

 they would become steadier and do better a second 

 season. We therefore separated the cocks from the 

 hens, placing each by themselves for the coming winter 

 until spring should bring pairing-time again, when we 

 hope for better luck and more prosperous times. Yes, 



" Sweet smile of hope, delicious tear, 



The sun, the shower indeed shall come ; 

 The promised verdant shoots appear, 

 And nature bid her blossoms bloom." 



We do not despair, but look forward with joy to the 

 prospect of returning spring, when we may again essay 



