162 
BIRDS IN A VILLAGE. 
and savages, and only exhilarates their coarse and 
juvenile brains, becomes increasingly intolerable to 
us. What unfortunate creatures we then are ! 
We have got our pretty rattle and are now afraid 
that the noise it makes is going to be the death 
of us. But what is noise ? Will any two highly 
intellectual beings agree as to the particular sound 
which produces the effect of rusty nails thrust in 
among the convolutions of the brain ? Physicians 
are continually discovering new forms of nervous 
maladies, caused by the perpetual hurry and 
worry and excitement of our modern life; and 
perhaps there is one form in which natural sounds, 
which being natural should be agreeable, or at any 
rate innocent, become more and more abhorrent. 
This is a question which concerns the medical 
journals; also, to some extent, those who labour 
to forecast the future. Happily, all our maladies 
are thrown off, sooner or later, if they do not kill 
us ; and we can cheerfully look forward to a time 
when the delicate cords in us shall no longer be 
made to vibrate " like sweet bells jangled out of 
tune and harsh " to any sound in nature, and when 
the peaceful crowing of the cock shall cease to 
madden the early waker. For, whatever may be 
the fate awaiting our city civilization, brave 
Chanticleer, improved as to his voice or not, will 
undoubtedly still be with us. 
