126 
OUR BIRDS IN WINTER. 
was still ; not content with injuring and kill- 
ing us, men will not hesitate to imprison us, 
and keep us for years away from our friends 
and relatives. They seem to have no affec- 
tion for us at all, notwithstanding all the good 
we do them.” 
I don’t know about that,” answered Gros- 
beak, there are many men who really appre- 
ciate and love us ; and I will say that the 
family I lived with treaded me with the great- 
est kindness and attention. If I had not 
wanted my freedom, I don’t know of any life 
in which I could have been happier. Some- 
times we fall into the hands of those who do 
not treat us so well ; and Crossbill, who was 
confined near me, and who escaped about the 
same time, had a hard life of it.” 
What ! has Crossbill escaped ? ” inquired 
some of his listeners. We had about given 
him up.” 
Yes ! ” answered Grosbeak, he has es- 
caped, and must be somewhere in this neigh- 
borhood ; for he accompanied me to within a 
few miles of here. But I was saying that 
