150 BIRDS' NESTS. 



but the contents of the other it would be very 

 hard to describe. 



It appeared that the family had not long 

 dined, for on the table stood a large brown 

 pan, to the sides of which there yet stuck 

 some bits of greasy potato, which a cat had 

 been prevented by Mr. Miller's entrance from 

 finishing. There was no cloth on the table, 

 nor were there any plates or forks; two or 

 three very dirty knives and iron-spoons were 

 the whole of the dinner-service. The windows 

 matched well with the rest of the house, dirty, 

 cracked, and without curtains ; and across 

 one of them was hung a string of birds' eggs, 

 a melancholy sight anywhere, but doubly so 

 here; because the wretched condition of all 

 around, proved that the person who took them 

 could not possibly have had an eye to their 

 elegance of form or beauty of colour, and 

 so have lost sight of the cruelty of robbing 

 the nests. Mr. Miller could not help saying, 

 f( What a pity that Mrs. Johnson, instead of 



