AN INCIDENT IN CLERICAL LI EE 
45 
“ Oh, they really did not cost very much. I don’t think I am 
extravagant.” 
“ No,” I said, “ I did not mean that. Do you ever read 
The Times ? ” 
“ No, my father always likes to keep The Times all the 
morning, and there never seems to be time to read papers after 
luncheon.” 
“ Well, I am sure,” I said, “ that you believe in a sanctity 
in animal life. You remember the words about the sparrows, 
‘ one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.’ 
The Creator, then, watches over His creatures. The death of 
each is regarded. When we presume to take a life His eye 
is on us. Must we not justify such an act as well as all our 
other acts ? ” 
“Oh, yes,” she cried, “ I am sure that is true. I felt it the 
other day when my brother killed a robin with a catapult.” 
“Our sense of a sanctity in life may,” I continued, “get 
dulled by the spectacle of slaughter before our eyes always. It 
is the law of the world that life must be sacrificed for the 
maintenance of other life. All life and movement is carried 
on by a constant transference of energy. But the educated 
conscience of man makes some very clear distinctions. It 
limits his rights to take the lives of others, the creatures of a 
common Creator, to such as are necessary for his own preserva- 
tion ; that is, for the sustentation of his life, the health of his 
life, and the safety of his life. But even within this rule no 
unnecessary infliction of pain is allowed. What then are we 
to say of those who, merely to trick and deck a hat, not only 
slay an innocent bird, but leave its young to die by slow degrees ? ” 
“ What have I done ? ” she cried, “ tell me what you mean ? ” 
I then told the story with which I had by that time become 
well acquainted. When I had finished her eyes were dim. 
She wished to tear out and leave the feathers behind. She 
could not bear to be seen in the street with them. 
“ It is a generous impulse, but I think there is no need to 
treat Mrs. Henry’s masterpiece so roughly. Wait till you get 
home, and accept my ‘dispensation’ for the short interval.” 
“ Well,” said she, now smiling, “ I will take your dispensa- 
tion and a four wheeled cab.” 
I have not yet finished my sermon. 
Siskins. — During the present winter I have noticed more siskins in this 
locality than in all other seasons combined. For this visitation I ain unable to 
account. They feed on alder seeds and follow the course of streams. I am 
informed they breed sometimes in Scotland. The distribution of birds in various 
localities is very interesting, but quite unaccountable to my mind ; for instance, 
the common buntings are as plentiful as robins a dozen miles away, or even 
occasionally much nearer, yet I never see one in the immediate neighbourhood. 
Meadow pipits in flocks are frequently seen in winter, but never in summer, yet 
they breed plentifully in Sutton Park, near Birmingham. 
Astwood Bank , kedditch. J. HlAM. 
