Houses $^ Gardens 23 



became a howling wilderness ; it was like one's pet 

 room with all the furniture gone, and only the carpet 

 left behind : so much so, that even neighbours not 

 exactly keen upon birds at once noticed the differ- 

 ence, and said that the lawn looked quite deserted. 

 The absence of my birds to me was as severe a trial 

 as empty bookshelves to a bookworm, almost as great 

 a one as empty chairs vacated by friends one has loved 

 to welcome and deplored to part with. 



