SCARLET TANAGER. 



47 



cage, endeavouring to get in. Finding this impracticable he flew 

 off, and soon returned with food in his bill; and continued to feed 

 it till after sunset, taking up his lodgings on the higher branches 

 of the same tree. In the morning, almost as soon as day broke, 

 he was again seen most actively engaged in the same affectionate 

 manner; and, notwithstanding the insolence of the Orioles, con- 

 tinued his benevolent offices the whole day, roosting at night as 

 before. On the third or fourth day, he appeared extremely soli- 

 citous for the liberation of his charge, using every expression of 

 distressful anxiety, and every call and invitation that nature had 

 put in his power for him to come out. This was too much for the 

 feelings of my venerable friend ; he procured a ladder, and mount- 

 ing to the spot where the bird was suspended, opened the cage, took 

 out the prisoner, and restored him to liberty and to his parent, who 

 with notes of great exultation accompanied his flight to the woods. 

 The happiness of my good friend was scarcely less complete, and 

 shewed itself in his benevolent countenance ; and I could not re- 

 frain saying to myself — If such sweet sensations can be derived 

 from a simple circumstance of this kind, how exquisite, how un- 

 speakably rapturous must the delight of those individuals have 

 been, who have rescued their fellow beings from death, chains and 

 imprisonment, and restored them to the arms of their friends and 

 relations ! Surely in such godlike actions virtue is its own most 

 abundant reward. 



