The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-10-02
For the Girls and Boys,
The Young Turtle-Dove of Car
mel.
NY MARY HOWITT.
PART ii.

were out in great lunches; the poIyanthusc
stood on their round green cluster of leaves
like bright,hcnded pins on lady's pncush
ion; the jonquils had burst their dry delicate
spatches and were ready TO open their fra
grant cups to the sun; the hyacinths wore
just bursting forth also, whilst upon tho old
wall shone out like radient gems the intense
scarlet flowers of the pyrus; japonica: tho ali
was fragrant with violcts, and the li0cs and
wcsteria were beginning to show their pro,
fuse wealth of howcrs;the little clustered buds
on the tops of the elm trees looked in the
sunshine ms ifcut out of coral; the roses were
full ofyoung shoots,some green 81 some red
g. the peony pierced the mould with its dark
crimson leaves folded up, as yet, like SO
many blunt headed spears. The old black
bird had mate, and he was singing TO her
with all his might; the rocks had forgotten
all their winter troubles, and were now busy
building and quarreing. 1t was a true
spring morning, and the poets children walk
ed hand in hand up and down the garden,
laying out great plans for the future of this
summer.
Just then, the weary turtlc-doves of Car
mel had reached England; the flock that had
set out at first had all come safely; they now
However, were very weary and hungry; the
young turtle that loved the music was the
weakest and most wearied ofall the flock
owe have not far to co." said the mother MS
it Jagged behind and seemed ready to faint;
sin an hour we shall be at Winter
down." tho little turtle grew fainter;
just then they passed over the poets garden
where the poets children were walking,
"Thcre they are" said the mother, "tho poets
children with their loving eyes and their gold
en- hair; we shall be at Winterdown in less
than an hour, follow mel"
The weary camel in the desert when it
perceives water afar Off although faint and
ready to sink the moment before, bounds for
ward in hope and Joy for the promised relief:
so it was with the flock Of doyc2; soaring q
bove the outskirts of London, they saw in the
distance the old iavorite woods of Surrey
towards which they winged their way with
impatient delight.
The weary young turtle dove sank down
among the rosetrees, md heard thcvoices of
the c,,' ""H" as they went by. In the even
ing, they saw what they thought white pig
con on a young pear-tree; the" were so p'G"S-
ed that they even dreamed about IT, NeA' ia!
the young dove was still there; so hungry az
frightened, and feeling so forlorn and friend
less. The children again saw it; this made
them happier still; it must be come 10 live
with them; they stole up softly to the tree
where it sat and the little trembling bird al
lowed itselfto be caught. They rushed into
the house; they had caught they said, the
white pigeon that was so beautiful, and yet
so unlike their own old ones. at shall live
with us; it shall love us; it shall have a mate
and be so happy" said the children.
For the first time since it had left Carmel
it had now plenty TO eat. 1t put its head be-
hind its wings and slept calmly for hours.
The poor little turtle dove, however, was
unhappy though no one knew it; it looked
out ofthe bars of its large cage, and longed
for the freedom ofMount Carmel and the long
talked of breezy heights of Winterdown. 1t
could not understand the nature of the wick
cr bars which inclosed it. 1t thought Of free
flight in the blue heavens, and huttercd from
side to sido of its cage.
The little turtle dove was sick at heart: ii
wanted it knew not what; but something
which was beyond its reach. 1t understood
not the loving eyes ofthe children; it wanted
space, freedom, and companionship, but no,
in cage!
The next day was Sunday. The turtles
cage stood in a boudoir; it looked beautiful
in the window among the Towering cameIli
rs. Before it stood an alabaster vase; the
picture ola young lovely girl looked down.
as if from the wall, in tenderness upon it
books were there behind gilded wire work
all was bright and beautiful. This little bou
dor opened into the drawing room, where 6
youth was playing some grand sacred music
the dove flew from side to side of the cage
somebody heard him, and said the poor biro
wants to get out, he sees the daylight through
the window; so they put down the Venetian
blind, and soft green gloom, as of wood
in sunshine, filled the room. The you'll
continued to play, and the poets children
came ia to listen also; nobody but then
thought morc.o of the dove. "Tho dove doe.
not like III" said they to each other, for the
dove was more to them than the music: 81
p distresses him; it is no use telling them no
to play: but oh! how unhappy he isl Let u
take him and hang him in our room; it is S,
quiet there"
lTLey hung his cage in their pretty room
called him the sweetest names they coul,
!hink Of and went down to listen to the beau