I20 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



I was especially interested in the goldfinch episode as related on page 

 38 of the January number, as a similar experience once came under my 

 own observation. A goldfinch flew into my neighbor's parlor, where 

 an invalid girl lay upon the sofa. The bird was frantic over its limita- 

 tions, as wild birds usually are, and could not be caught to be given its 

 freedom. As it was rushing from one window to another and beating 

 its wings vainly against the glass, the sick girl spoke softly to it, at the 

 same time holding out her hand to the frightened bird. 



To the intense surprise of all present the bird listened, came at once to 

 her hand, and rested there in perfect contentment seemingly. 



It showed no fear as she stroked its feathers gently, nor did it leave 

 her hand till it was fast asleep at night, when she placed the little 

 golden ball upon a picture frame within reach. For two or three days 

 it hovered about her couch, resting upon her hand whenever it was al- 

 lowed to do so, and sleeping upon the same perch above the picture, as 

 happy in her companionship as it could have been with its own kin so 

 regally apparelled. After a few days its little life was over. The fam- 

 ily have it still, mounted and given a place in the same room. The 

 bird recognized something in the girl akin to sympathy, a power not 

 confined to this bird alone, for I have known her to call the bluebirds to 

 her chamber window. I have often wondered at it — what it was the 

 tiny creature recognized in the stranger? 



Nellie Hart WoodwOrth, 



St. Albans, Vt. 



GLEANINGS, 



The river was numb, and could not speak. 

 For the weaver Winter its shroud had spun; 



A single crow on the tree-top bleak 



From his shining feathers shed off the sun. 



Lowell. 



I stood and watched by the window 



The noiseless work of the sky. 



And the sudden flurries of snow-birds 



Like brown leaves whirling by. 



Lowell. 



