ii6 



" I am a captive robin," I said. 



He stayed and talked to me awhile and then he 

 flew away. I felt very sad. 



But he came again. Every day we talked to- 

 gether. I told him my story. I asked him if he 

 could tell me anything of my father and mother, 

 or of my little brothers and sisters, but he could 

 not. I never knew what became of them. 



I did not care now for that other robin in the 

 looking-glass room. I did not care to sit on the 

 back of my mistress's chair. When she let me out 

 I flew to the window and sat looking out and long- 

 ing to be free. 



" Are you sick, my little robin ? " asked my mis- 

 tress. But I could not tell her. 



One day my robin friend came to my cage. " If 

 you were only free," he said, "you should be my 

 mate." 



Then he told me how, before very long, he must 

 fly away. The winter was coming. That was why 

 the sky shone so and the leaves turned red. Very 

 soon the leaves would fall. Then he must go. 



Now indeed I was sad. I pined to be free ; — 

 to use my wings in the sky instead of in that 

 cramped little room with its one window. 



