SPINNETTE, THE FAIRY. 
141 
the whole conversation, and he the. more 
firmly resolved to turn over a new leaf. 
As soon as breakfast was finished, Tobin 
went out to sharpen his axe, and Oscar stood 
by the cage watching the wounded bird for 
some time ; when, noticing that it did not eat, 
he opened the cage, and took the Greenfinch 
up carefully ; the pain in the broken limb was 
so great, that when Oscar touched it, Henry 
fairly screamed, but only as a bird chirps, for 
he was now only a little Greenfinch. 
Oscar opened the bird’s beak, and, taking 
a piece of bread that to Henry looked as large 
as a loaf, but which was really only a fair- 
sized crumb, forced it down its throat. Henry, 
half choked, tried not to swallow it, but at 
last it was forced down by Oscar, who then 
took the water-basin, and held it to the bird’s 
beak to let it drink. Henry struggled to get 
free, but the movement only hurt his broken 
limb, and did no good, for Oscar held him 
with a firm yet gentle grasp. The water ran 
down his throat, and, although he felt little 
like eating or drinking, he was forced to swal- 
low it or choke. 
