A London Idyll 2069 
parents’ insistent chirpings, he made a second 
and many other attempts; but he could not 
succeed 1n guiming the third window-sill. At this 
point he always fell backwards to the ground. 
It is probable that his wing was still more 
injured by these falls, and, as evening approached, 
the old birds seemed to realize that flight was 
for him unpossible. 
They also saw possibilities connected with 
a cistern resting low down in an angle of the 
wall, and they set about putting these into 
operation. They began by hopping backwards 
and forwards to the cistern, chirping loudly the 
while in language which thei invalid under- 
stood, and which said as plainly as possible: 
“This is the way to freedom, walk in it,” and 
at length the pluckly little one tried to imitate 
them. He made many failures, but at last he 
actually succeeded in gaining the cistern. By 
this time night was closing in, and nothing 
further was seen or heard of them. 
On the third morning the adaptibility and 
practical wisdom of the wise old birds was dis- 
played in such a remarkable manner that 1t was 
unpossible to doubt that the scheme which led 
to deliverance had been fully thought out. 
Hanging from the roof of the house to the “Do just what I an doing.” 
ground in the next yard, and in an angle only 
a few feet from the cistern which had proved so useful, was a very thick rope attached to 
a lift, and to this rope the parent birds made frequent excursions. Gaining it, they would 
make short upward climbs, lookmg back and chirping loudly the while and repeating the 
chirping each time they returned to their invalid resting on the cistern. Nor were their 
lessons thrown away, for bye-and-bye he too was seen fluttermgly clinging to the rope. 
The excitement of the old birds was now boundless. One mounted the rope ladder 
in front, looking back to give screaming instructions which we interpreted into: ‘“‘ Do 
just what I am doing, it is very easy!” the other bird meanwhile mounting the rope 
below, and sometimes hovering round, vociferously seconding its mate’s efforts. 
It was easily seen that the trembling little one maimtained it’s position on the rope 
only with great difficulty; but he never quite let go, though he repeatedly lost ground. 
Nevertheless, on the whole he gained, though very slowly. 
The tender, persuasive lessons by the parent birds were repeated over and over 
again; and over and over again was the battle for the little one’s life almost lost. Yet 
they never appeared to lose hope; and as for the little one, his courage and endurance 
in his wounded condition was truly heroic. The persuasive flutterings and chirpings 
of the anxious parents continued without intermission, as if they fully recognised what 
failure involved, and without doubt nerved the invalid to greater efforts, for soon after 
mid-day the heroic trio were observed to be nearing the top of the rope. Ascent 
was now quicker; they rose higher and higher till three o'clock, when success crowned 
their efforts, and they finally disappeared over the roof, just fifty-two hours after the 
accident was discovered. 
