138 
OUR BIRDS IN WINTER. 
^ Tell US, Spilinette ; we are dying with 
curiosity,’ said all the old women. 
^ Silence ! all, and you shall hear,’ said 
Spinnette. ^ A poor little Greenfinch, with a 
broken wing, fell into the hands of this fel- 
low’s brother. He nursed it, took the best of 
care of it, and in the most generous manner 
determined to give it its freedom when it was 
healed ; for he considered it wrong to deprive 
the bird of its liberty longer than it was 
unable to take care of itself.’ 
This fellow, having foolislily hurt him- 
self ill threatening it, vowed to kill it ; and, 
in the most wicked manner, instigated by the 
insane jealousy of his disposition, tried to 
make the cat eat it, thinking that no blame 
would fall upon him if she did. The bird 
was your Queen, Spinnette: she, of course, 
escaped ; and, when he went to the spring for 
water to drown it in, not being successful witli 
the cat, I seized him and brought him here. 
What in your opinion does he deserve ? ’ 
The confusion at the close of this speech 
was so great, that it was' for a few minutes 
