16 
TRAVELS IN CENTRAL AFRICA. 
wliich were always open, to feed their young. A few days elapsed, 
and then the wee heads appeared above the edge of the beautifully 
constructed nest, and such chirps were uttered that my heart be- 
came glad once more. At last the time came when the fledgelings 
might try their wings, and how proud seemed the parent birds when 
the little ones, encouraged, took their first flight — a whirl in the lofty 
room ! then a dart was made through a window, when all but one 
shot safely through, the weak one falling to the ground. I, who 
deemed myself helpless, was out of bed quickly, and finding that 
the tiny bird was alive, placed it in a basket, and I put it on a table 
near to me. The mother flew back, noticed where the weak nest- 
ling was, and for a week she regularly brought to it insects, and 
once a large beetle. The bird was soon strong on the wing, and, to 
my regret, flitted ; but a lesson I had learned, I threw off the desire 
to ^ drift away,^ and was once again enabled to help my suffering 
husband.^^ 
July nth. 
“ Still are we wearying for news from home : you cannot 
imagine how the yearning for letters from the loved ones retards 
my recovery. Petherick is in. a more miserable state of health 
than myself. 
Oh, the bitter grief we feel for the loss of the good Dean 
Littler ! a few days ago only were we aware of it. Alademoiselle 
von Capellan had received a few English papers : she sent them to 
us ; in one I read the death of that worthy man 
Mademoiselle Capellan remains at Khartoum until the return of 
her sister, Madame Tinne. She passed a long day with us yester- 
day : we three were invalids : there was no efiPort to make amuse- 
ment, but each, in our way, read, slept, or softly chatted as the 
hours passed.^^ 
